Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids alleviate hydrogen sulfide-induced blood-testis barrier disruption in the testes of adult mice.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS), a gaseous intracellular signal transducer, participates in multiple physiological and pathological conditions, including reproductive conditions, and disrupts spermatogenesis. The blood-testis barrier (BTB) plays a vital role in spermatogenesis. However, the effect of HS on the BTB and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. Herein, we examined the effect of HS and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) on the BTB and testicular functions. ICR male mice were randomly divided into the following groups: control, HS exposure, and HS exposure with ω-3 PUFAs intervention. The sperm parameters (sperm concentration and sperm motility) declined in the HS group and improved in the ω-3 intervention group. BTB integrity was severely disrupted by HS, and the BTB-related gene levels (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin 11) decreased; ω-3 supplementation could alleviate BTB disruption by upregulating BTB-related genes, and TM4 Sertoli cells had a similar trend in vitro. p38 MAPK phosphorylation was upregulated in the NaS treatment group and downregulated after ω-3 cotreatment. These findings suggest that HS can impair the BTB and that ω-3 PUFAs supplementation can attenuate HS toxicity in the male reproductive system. Our study elucidated the relationship between a gasotransmitter (HS) and the BTB and identified the potential therapeutic effect of ω-3 PUFAs.