[Roles of endogenous hydrogen sulfide in the bladder and prostate].

Recently, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been recognized as the third gasotransmitter besides nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, and it has been reported that H2S exhibits various physiological functions such as neuromodulation and vasorelaxation. In the lower urinary tract (bladder and prostate), it is reported that donors of H2S induce contraction of the rat detrusor and relaxation of the pig bladder neck. These reports suggest a possibility that H2S may have site-specific effects on the bladder. However, the detailed functions of H2S in each part of the bladder are still unclear. In addition, there is no report showing physiological roles of H2S in the prostate. In this article, we will review the distribution of enzymes related to H2S biosynthesis and physiological roles of H2S in the lower urinary tract based on reports from our and other groups. We will also introduce a possibility that H2S can be a new therapeutic target against lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) based on our data from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), which develop hypertension-mediated LUTS.