Sodium hydrosulfide: A new potential candidate for treating delayed gastric emptying in diabetes

Introduction: Sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) has shown to enhance the gastric emptying rate in normal rats but till now its effect on gastric emptying of food stuffs in diabetic rats was not investigated. Therefore, this study designed to determine the role of an oral administration of NaHS on gastric emptying rate (GER) of glucose, albumin and olive oil in gastroparetic and normal rats. Methods: To evaluate the effect of NaHS on the gastric emptying of glucose, albumin and olive oil in normal rats, thirty-six normal rats randomly assigned in six experimental groups (6 per group). Three groups of rats considered as control. They received albumin, glucose or olive oil orally. Three other normal groups considered as NaHS-treated animals. These groups received NaHS (320 µg/kg, orally) 30 min prior to food stuffs. To investigate the effect of NaHS on the gastric emptying of food stuffs in diabetic rats, the same protocols carried out. Thirty min after intragastric administration of food stuffs, animals received acetaminophen (as a marker for gastric emptying rate). Results: The results showed that in normal and gastroparetic rats, an oral administration of NaHS accelerated gastric emptying of glucose, albumin and olive oil. The increased gastric emptying of glucose, albumin and olive oil in NaHS-pretreated gastroparetic rats was 89.9, 92.3 and 60% respectively more than in corresponding’s controls. Conclusion: The results showed that orally administration of NaHS can increase the gastric emptying of glucose, albumin and olive oil in diabetic rats.