Hydrogen sulfide exposure increases desiccation tolerance in Drosophila melanogaster

Year of Publication: 2010
Source: Journal of Physiology, in press, corrected proof, available online August 2, 2010
Jian-feng Zhong, Shu-Ping Wang, Xiao Qin Shi-Li-Li, Mu, Guo Qing Li
hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has shown that the effect of physiological changes of various animals, led often improved survival in otherwise lethal conditions. In this paper, a volatility bioassay system was developed to assess the survival of Drosophila melanogaster adults exposed to H2S gas from a donor K2S. Using this assay system, we found that H2S exposure significantly increased the survival of flies under arid conditions and free food, but not under conditions of moisture and free food. This suggests that H2S plays a role in desiccation tolerance, but not anti-nutritional stress. To confirm the suggestion. . .