Sodium Thiosulfate Improves Hypertension in Rats with Adenine-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease.

Hypertension is highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is an endogenously produced gasotransmitter with vasodilator properties. We, hence, investigated whether oral administration of sodium thiosulfate (STS), a clinically applicable H 2 S-based therapy, can exert a protective effect against hypertension in an adenine-induced CKD rat model. Eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with 0.5% adenine chow for 3 weeks to induce CKD. After 1 week, the rats were divided into two groups: one without and one with STS (2 g/kg body weight/day) in drinking water for 2 weeks. Treatment with STS lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 7 and 9 mm Hg, respectively. Renal H 2 S-generating enzyme expression was inhibited by CKD, while STS therapy increased plasma levels of H 2 S and thiosulfate. Additionally, restoration of nitric oxide bioavailability and rebalance of the renin-angiotensin system may contribute to the protective effects of STS. Our data suggest that the oral administration of STS improves hypertension in an adenine-induced CKD model, which brings us closer to the clinical translation of H 2 S-targeting therapy in CKD-induced hypertension.