Fig. 5

Graphical summary of oocyte ageing and the involvement of hydrogen sulfide through the modulation of ion channels. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) treatment protects oocytes against cell death when fragmented or lytic oocytes are observed (background). Modulators of K⁺_ATP and Ca²⁺ channels (activator and inhibitor, respectively) show hydrogen sulfide-like rescue effects (modulation). Therefore, we experimentally tested the crosstalk of K⁺_ATP/Ca²⁺ ion channels and hydrogen sulfide when the beneficial effect of hydrogen sulfide was reversed using increasing concentration of K⁺_ATP inhibitor or Ca²⁺ channel activator (experiments). Based on our findings, we concluded that K⁺_ATP/Ca²⁺ channels are molecular targets of hydrogen sulfide in aged oocytes