Abstract
The present study aimed to clarify the protective effects of p‑methoxyphenyl morpholino‑phosphinodithioic acid (GYY4137), a water‑soluble hydrogen sulfide‑releasing molecule, on a rat model of intestinal ischemia‑reperfusion (IIR). A total of 40 healthy male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=10/group): Group A, a sham‑surgery group; Group B, the IIR group; group C, rats with IIR that were administered an abdominal injection of low‑dose GYY4137 (40 mg/kg); and group D, rats with IIR that were administered high‑dose GYY4137 (80 mg/kg). Intestinal histomorphology was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Apoptotic index (AI) was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl‑transferase‑mediated dUTP nick end labeling. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR analysis was performed to assess the expression levels of intestinal caspase‑3, Bax and Bcl‑2. Notably, disordered arrangement of intestinal villi and mucosal necrosis were detected in group B, which was substantially improved by GYY4137 treatment (groups C and D). MDA content (nmol/mg) was 2.83±0.36, 9.23±0.78, 4.97±0.45 and 3.51±1.05 nmol/mg in groups A, B, C and D, respectively. In addition, SOD concentration (U/mg) was 135.37±3.34, 76.45±1.39, 95.13±1.64 and 115.13±2.54 in groups A, B, C and D, respectively. Furthermore, AI in group B (21.73±1.17%) was markedly higher than that in group A (4.53±0.28%) and in the GYY4137 intervention groups (9.53±0.96 and 6.53±0.76% in groups C and D, respectively). Compared with in group A, the mRNA expression levels of Bax and caspase‑3 were markedly higher in group B (P<0.05), whereas the expression of Bcl‑2 was significantly lower (P<0.05). Furthermore, compared with in group B, Bcl‑2 expression was higher, and Bax and caspase‑3 expression was lower in groups C and D (P<0.05). In conclusion, GYY4137 may alleviate IIR‑induced damage in SD rats.