Juliet L Kroll1, Chelsey A Werchan1, Audrey G Reeves2, Kevin J Bruemmer2, Alexander R Lippert2, Thomas Ritz3. 1. Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA. 2. Department of Chemistry, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA. 3. Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA. Electronic address: tritz@smu.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is the third gasotransmitter recently discovered after nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide. Both NO and H2S are involved in multiple physiological functions. Whereas NO has been shown to vary with psychological stress, the influence of stress on H2S and the relationship between H2S and NO are unknown. We therefore examined levels of salivary H2S and NO in response to a stressful final academic exam period. METHODS: Measurements of stress, negative affect, and fraction of exhaled NO (FENO), were obtained from students (N=16) and saliva was collected at three time points: low-stress period in the semester, early exam period, and late exam period. Saliva was immediately analyzed for H2S with the fluorescent probe Sulfidefluor-4. RESULTS: H2S increased significantly during the early exam period and FENO decreased gradually towards the late exam period. H2S, FENO, negative affect, and stress ratings were positively associated with each other: as stress level and negative affect increased, values of H2S increased; in addition, as FENO levels decreased, H2S also decreased. Asthma status did not modify these associations. CONCLUSION: Sustained academic stress increases H2S and these changes are correlated with NO and the experience of stress and negative affect. These findings motivate research with larger samples to further explore the interaction and function of H2S and FENO during psychological stress.
BACKGROUND:Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is the third gasotransmitter recently discovered after nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide. Both NO and H2S are involved in multiple physiological functions. Whereas NO has been shown to vary with psychological stress, the influence of stress on H2S and the relationship between H2S and NO are unknown. We therefore examined levels of salivary H2S and NO in response to a stressful final academic exam period. METHODS: Measurements of stress, negative affect, and fraction of exhaled NO (FENO), were obtained from students (N=16) and saliva was collected at three time points: low-stress period in the semester, early exam period, and late exam period. Saliva was immediately analyzed for H2S with the fluorescent probe Sulfidefluor-4. RESULTS:H2S increased significantly during the early exam period and FENO decreased gradually towards the late exam period. H2S, FENO, negative affect, and stress ratings were positively associated with each other: as stress level and negative affect increased, values of H2S increased; in addition, as FENO levels decreased, H2S also decreased. Asthma status did not modify these associations. CONCLUSION: Sustained academic stress increases H2S and these changes are correlated with NO and the experience of stress and negative affect. These findings motivate research with larger samples to further explore the interaction and function of H2S and FENO during psychological stress.
Authors: Weiwei An; Lucas S Ryan; Audrey G Reeves; Kevin J Bruemmer; Lyn Mouhaffel; Jeni L Gerberich; Alexander Winters; Ralph P Mason; Alexander R Lippert Journal: Angew Chem Int Ed Engl Date: 2018-12-21 Impact factor: 15.336