Hydrogen sulfide functions as a neuromodulator to regulate striatal neurotransmission in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), a novel endogenous gasotransmitter, has been considered a neuromodulator to enhance hippocampal long‐term potentiation and exerts neuroprotective effects against neurotoxin‐induced neurodegeneration in rodent models of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, whether H₂S can function as a neuromodulator to regulate the levels of nigrostriatal neurotransmitters and then impact the vulnerability of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in response to neurotoxins remains unknown. For this study, we prepared a 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine plus probenecid (MPTP/p)‐induced mouse subacute model of PD to explore the modulatory effect of H₂S on monoamine and amino acid neurotransmitters in the striatum of MPTP‐treated mice. This study shows that NaHS (an H₂S donor, 5.6 mg/kg/day, i.p.) administration improves the survival rate and significantly ameliorates the weight loss of MPTP‐treated mice. NaHS treatment attenuated MPTP‐induced neuronal damage, restored the diminution of DA neurons, and suppressed the overactivation of astrocytes in the mouse striatum. Additionally, NaHS upregulated striatal serotonin levels and modulated the balance of excitatory glutamate and the inhibitory γ‐aminobutyric acid system in response to MPTP challenge. The current study indicates that H₂S may function as an effective neuromodulator to regulate striatal neurotransmission and provides insight into the potential of H₂S for PD therapy. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.