Effect of Exogenous Hydrogen Sulfide and Polysulfide Donors on Insulin Sensitivity of the Adipose Tissue

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and inorganic polysulfides are important signaling molecules; however, little is known about their role in adipose tissue. We examined the effect of H2S and polysulfides on insulin sensitivity of the adipose tissue in rats. Plasma glucose, insulin, non-esterified fatty acids, and glycerol were measured after administration of H2S and the polysulfide donors, Na2S and Na2S4, respectively. In addition, the effect of Na2S and Na2S4 on insulin-induced glucose uptake and inhibition of lipolysis was studied in adipose tissue explants ex vivo. Na2S and Na2S4 administered in vivo at a single dose of 100 μmol/kg had no effect on plasma glucose and insulin concentrations. In addition, Na2S and Na2S4 did not modify the effect of insulin on plasma glucose, fatty acids, and glycerol concentrations. Na2S and Na2S4had no effect on the antilipolytic effect of insulin in adipose tissue explants ex vivo. The effect of insulin on 2-deoxyglucose uptake by adipose tissue was impaired in obese rats which was accompanied by lower insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and Akt. Na2S4, but not Na2S, improved insulin signaling and increased insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake by adipose tissue of obese rats. The results suggest that polysulfides may normalize insulin sensitivity, at least in the adipose tissue, in obesity/metabolic syndrome.

Nitric oxide cycle activity in rat biceps femoris muscle under conditions of bacterial lipopolysaccharide influence, experimental metabolic syndrome and their combination

“…An increase in the concentration of sulfides in the MetS group can be considered an adaptive response to the development of insulin resistance in this group since, in the scientific literature, there are data on the increase in glucose uptake by cells under the influence of insulin due to the exogenous introduction of H 2 S and polysulfides [23]. According to A. Berenyiova et al, enriching the diet of rats with fructose can increase the expression of cystathionine β-synthase genes, which can also explain the increase in the pool of endogenous H 2 S observed in our study [24].…”

Novel Regulatory Roles of Hydrogen Sulfide in Health and Disease

“…Several studies that appear in this Special Issue utilized H 2 S salts such as NaHS or Na 2 S, which are often referred to in the literature as “fast-acting H 2 S donors”, although this terminology (as well as the actual delivery of H 2 S to biological systems performed this way, which creates high peak concentrations and is not a good way to mimic the endogenous H 2 S biosynthesis) is not without problems, as discussed in recent reviews [ 2 , 3 ]. Nevertheless, using this pharmacological approach, various protective and beneficial effects of H 2 S have been highlighted in this Special Issue, such as improved insulin signalling in the adipose tissue [ 22 ] and protective effects in a model of kidney ischemia-reperfusion [ 23 ].…”