Fig. 3.
I/R induced release of cytochrome c into the cytosol of mucosal epithelial cells relative to sham (nonischemic) intestine. This disruption in postischemic mitochondrial membrane integrity was prevented by preconditioning with either the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor NaHS (NaHS-PC+I/R) or the BKCa channel activator NS-1619 (NS-1619+I/R) 24 h prior to induction of I/R. Coincident treatment with paxilline, a BKCa channel inhibitor, with NaHS 24 h prior to I/R (Pax+NaHS-PC+I/R) abrogated the protective actions of this H2S donor on postischemic mitochondrial membrane integrity. Top: representative Western blot showing comparison of signals from cytochrome c vs. β-actin. Bottom: densitometric analysis of full data set from 6 rats per treatment group. *P < 0.05 compared with sham, NaHS-PC+I/R, and NS-1619+I/R groups.