Hydrogen sulfide as an oxygen sensor/transducer in vertebrate hypoxic vasoconstriction and hypoxic vasodilation

• DOI: 10.1242/jeb.02480
• Publication Date: 2006-10-05T19:52:07Z
• Authors: Kenneth R. Olson; Ryan A. Dombkowski; Michael J. Russell; Meredith M. Doellman; Sally K. Head; Nathan L. Whitfield; Jane A. Madden
• Keywords: Hypoxia; Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction; Constriction

How vertebrate blood vessels sense acute hypoxia and respond either by constricting (hypoxic vasoconstriction) or dilating vasodilation) has not been resolved. In the present study we compared mechanical electrical responses of select to H2S, measured vascular H2S production, evaluated effects inhibitors synthesis addition precursor, cysteine, on hypoxic vasoconstriction vasodilation. We found that: (1) in all examined date, produce temporally quantitatively identical even though vary from constriction (lamprey dorsal aorta; lDA), dilation (rat rA), multi-phasic bovine pulmonary arteries; rPA bPA, respectively). (2) The lDA, rA bPA appear competitive; presence one stimulus, response other stimulus is substantially completely eliminated. (3) Hypoxia same degree cell depolarization bPA. (4) constitutively synthesized lDA smooth muscle. (5) Inhibition inhibits rA, (6) Addition doubles contraction prolongs alters re-oxygenation rA. These studies suggest that may serve as an O2 sensor/transducer hypoxia. this model, concentration vasoactive vessel governed balance between endogenous production its oxidation available O2.