Hydrogen Sulfide Donor NaHS Improves Metabolism and Reduces Muscle Atrophy in Type 2 Diabetes: Implication for Understanding Sarcopenic Pathophysiology

Figure 7

H₂S therapy ameliorated decreased Akt H₂S therapy activity and increased levels of myostatin and oxidative stress in diabetic skeletal muscle. H₂S therapy was given IP to a group of diabetic rats at a dose of 5.6 mg/kg/day for a duration of one month. Muscles were removed and analyzed for Akt activity, myostatin, and oxidative stress. (a–c) Generation of superoxide and H₂O₂ in muscle membrane (a and b) (a) and mitochondrial (c) fractions were determined as described in Materials and Methods. (d–g) Myostatin (d) and macromolecule oxidative products including protein-bound carbonyls (e), MDA (f), and OHdG (g) in muscle receiving NaHS therapy were assessed using RT-PCR and ELISA-based assays. (h and i) Akt activity (h) and the antioxidant capacity (i) showed favorable response to H₂S therapy, and their quantifications were based on spectrophotometric and Western blot techniques, respectively. Abbreviation: C: control; D: diabetic. Values are for at least 6 animals/group. Significantly different from corresponding control values at . Significantly different from corresponding diabetic vehicle-treated values at .

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