Role of hydrogen sulfide in portal hypertension and esophagogastric junction vascular disease

Figure 5 Effect of H₂S concentrations on portal vein smooth muscle cell apoptosis rates. A: Immunofluorescence assays showed significant apoptosis in normal rabbit omentum vascular smooth muscle cells under normal H₂S (50 μmol/L) concentration; B: There was significantly less apoptosis in the cells without H₂S (magnification × 40); C: Under an electron microscope, with normal H₂S concentrations, rupturing of the nuclear membrane and condensation of the nucleoplasm was observed, indicating irreversible cell death; D: In cells without H₂S substitution, the mitochondria appeared intact and the structural integrity was maintained.