Homeostasis of sulfate and 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate in rats with deficient dietary intake of sulfur

This study was designed to determine the role of dietary organic and inorganic sulfur on 39-phosphoadenosine 59-phosphosulfate (PAPS) homeostasis. Organic sulfur was altered by adding various amounts of methionine (0.15, 0.3, 0.6, or 1.2%) to a sulfhydryl-deficient diet. Inorganic sulfur was altered by providing rats with no sulfate or sulfate in their diets (0.12%) and distilled or tap water. Rats received these diets for 5 days. The two lowest methionine-containing diets produced a 60% reduction in liver glutathione concentrations, and the addition of sulfate to the diets did not restore hepatic glutathione levels. Urinary sulfate excretion was reduced by 95% in rats fed the three low-methionine diets. Addition of sulfate to these diets increased the urinary excretion of sulfate, but did not return sulfate levels to control values. The three low-methionine-containing diets decreased serum and liver sulfate concentrations about 50% and addition of sulfate to these diets largely restored them to control levels. Hepatic PAPS concentration was decreased (10%) only in the group receiving the lowest methionine content in their diet, and addition of sulfate had no effect on hepatic PAPS. In summary, dietary alterations of sulfur lowered the glutathione concentration in the liver as well as decreased sulfate levels in serum, liver, and urine, but had minimal effect on hepatic PAPS concentrations. Therefore, it appears that hepatic steady-state PAPS levels are not highly dependent on the sulfur content of the diet.