Sildenafil administration during testicular torsion decreased ischemia/reperfusion cellular damage. The results of biochemical studies suggest that, reduction of oxidative stress by sildenafil may have a major role in its cytoprotective effects.
The cannabinergic system is implicated in the mechanisms of action of certain psychotropic drugs including the upregulation of brain NGF levels. This provides a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders, leading to novel drug design.
Oxidative stress plays a dominant role in the pathogenesis of cardiac cell apoptosis in diabetic patients. Sildenafil has been demonstrated to have antioxidant effects. In this study, the effects of sildenafil on diabetes-induced cardiac cell apoptosis and the antioxidant status of diabetic mouse hearts were investigated. Diabetic mice showed lower body weight gains and heart weights compared with control mice, and sildenafil treatment did not increase these parameters in diabetic mice. Although apoptotic rates, caspase-3 enzyme activity, and malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in diabetic mouse hearts than in controls, they were reduced in diabetic mice after sildenafil treatment. At the end of the first week, we observed no significant differences in antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, GSH-Px, and SOD) in diabetic and control groups, whereas at the end of the second week of sildenafil treatment, antioxidant enzyme activities were higher in the diabetic group. In conclusion, our study indicated that sildenafil was beneficial to hearts of diabetic mice by reducing cardiac cell apoptosis, partially because of its antioxidant effects in the heart.
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