The role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is addressed in Xenopuslaevis oocytes. Three enzymes involved in H2S metabolism, cystathionine β-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, were detected in prophase I and metaphase II-arrested oocytes and drove an acceleration of oocyte meiosis resumption when inhibited. Moreover, meiosis resumption is associated with a significant decrease in endogenous H2S. On another hand, a dose-dependent inhibition was obtained using the H2S donor, NaHS (1 and 5 mM). NaHS impaired translation. NaHS did not induce the dissociation of the components of the M-phase promoting factor (MPF), cyclin B and Cdk1, nor directly impacted the MPF activity. However, the M-phase entry induced by microinjection of metaphase II MPF-containing cytoplasm was diminished, suggesting upstream components of the MPF auto-amplification loop were sensitive to H2S. Superoxide dismutase and catalase hindered the effects of NaHS, and this sensitivity was partially dependent on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast to other species, no apoptosis was promoted. These results suggest a contribution of H2S signaling in the timing of amphibian oocytes meiosis resumption.

Biomedical Center and Department of Histology and Embryology Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University Alej Svobody 1655 76 32300 Pilsen Czech Republic

CNRS UMR 8576 UGSF Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle Univ Lille F 59000 Lille France

Department of Veterinary Sciences Food and Natural Resources Faculty of Agrobiology Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamycka 129 16521 Prague Suchdol Czech Republic

Research Institute of Animal Production Pratelstvi 815 10400 Prague 10 Uhrineves Czech Republic

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Hydrogen sulfide and its role in female reproduction