Toxic Gas in Rat Brains Shows Potential for New Dementia Treatments

A study in Scientific Reports shows that treatments to reduce levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in rat brains may help stave off damage caused by the gas, reports EurekAlert . The researchers showed that H2S plays a role in blocking a key brain cell gateway that helps the brain to communicate effectively. Cells extracted from rat brains were charged with a H2S donor molecule, and neuron electrical signals were monitored. The resulting infusion of the gas raised the level of activity in brain cells, and the research established that the effect was specifically controlled by the potassium channel tested. The team also identified which part of the potassium channel was allowing this effect. By using a mutated form of the channel, which has already been shown to shield nerve cells against a welter of toxic stimuli, including amyloid beta, they learned that the mutation resists the effect of H2S observed in natural cells. "This exciting study demonstrates the growing evidence that gasotransmitters play an important role as signalling molecules in the regulation of the physiological processes underlying Alzheimer's disease, which are relatively poorly understood, opening new avenues for investigation and drug discovery," said the University of Leeds' Moza Al-Owais.