Metabolic changes in rat brain synaptosomes after exposure to sulfide in vivo.

The effects of exposure of rats to sulfide and the action of exogenous heme were studied in rat-brain synaptosomes. Exposure to sulfide impaired the respiration of synaptosomes which was reversed by heme (4 mg/kg body weight). Sodium sulfide caused partial inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine uptake, strongly inhibited veratridine-dependent release of these neurotransmitters and reduced veratridine-dependent changes in transmembrane electrical potential. Heme treatment did not reverse these changes.