Alternative methanogenesis - Methanogenic potential of organosulfur administration

While CH4 is conventionally believed to be physiologically inert, anti-inflammatory effects were described for exogenous CH4 in several experimental hypoxia-reoxygenation conditions [8]. [...]these and other data collectively raised the possibility that non-bacterial CH4 emissions can be part of an adaptive response to oxido-reductive stress in eukaryotes [6, 7]. Biothiols can easily be internalized via dietary intake [10], and theoretically, this route might influence the process of CH4 formation. [...]the major aim of our study was to investigate the methanogenic potential of organosulfur compounds in model experimental systems of oxido-reductive stress. The device was previously calibrated with various gas mixtures prepared by dilution of 100 ppm CH4 in synthetic air (Messer, Budapest, Hungary), and it has a dynamic range of 4 orders of magnitude; the minimum detectable concentration of the sensor was found to be 0.25 ppm (3σ), with an integration time of 12 s. In vivo experiments The animal experiments were performed on a total of 49 male SKH-1 hairless mice (weighing 30–36 g) in accordance with the National Institutes of Health guidelines on the handling and care of experimental animals and EU Directive 2010/63 for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. The whole-body CH4 emission was calculated as the difference in the baseline CH4 concentration (using 50 measuring point area under the curve) and the cumulative CH4 released during the first 5 min of the 20-min sample collection period (using 50 measuring point area under the curve) and then referred to the body weight.