Chronic administration of sildenafil improves erectile function in a rat model of chronic renal failure

Abstract

The relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and chronic renal failure (CRF) has been reported in several studies. This study aimed to investigate whether the chronic use of sildenafil could enhance the erectile capacity in CRF-induced rats. In addition, we assessed the effect of that treatment on certain molecules, which have been suggested to play crucial roles in erectile physiology and CRF-related ED as well. Three groups of animals were utilized: (1) age-matched control rats, (2) CRF-induced rats, (3) CRF-induced rats treated with chronic administration of sildenafil (5 mg kg−1 p.o. for 6 weeks [treatment started after 6 weeks of CRF induction]). At 3 months, all animals underwent cavernosal nerve stimulation (CNS) to assess erectile function. Penile tissue advanced glycation end products (AGE's)/5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde, malondialdehyde (MDA), cGMP (ELISA), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) (Western blot) analyses were performed in all rat groups. CRF-induced rats had a significant decrease in erectile function when compared to control rats (P < 0.05). The increase in both intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and area under the curve of CRF-induced rats treated with sildenafil (Group 3) was greater than CRF-induced rats (Group 2). Additionally, sildenafil treatment decreased AGE, MDA and iNOS levels, while it preserved nNOS and cGMP contents in CRF-induced penile tissue. Decreased AGE, MDA, iNOS and increased nNOS, cGMP levels at the sildenafil-treated group increased both ICP and Total ICP to CNS, which led to improve erectile function in CRF-induced rats. The results of the present study revealed the therapeutic effect of chronic sildenafil administration on erectile function in CRF-induced rats.

The Toxic Effect Of Sildenafil Citrate On Adult Albino Rat Testis And The Possible Protective Role Of Royal Jelly (Histological And Immunohistochemical Study)

“…The side effects of sildenafil citrate are mostly mild to moderate. But, with higher doses and long term administration of the sildenafil citrate the side effect become severe [19] .…”

A review of experimental techniques for erectile function researches and development of medical technology using animal erectile dysfunction models in sexual and reproductive medicine

“…PDE‐5 inhibitors increase the concentration of cyclic GMP in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle, relax the smooth muscle, and affect erectile function. 5 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 Although PDE‐5 inhibitors have been shown to be effective against several types of ED, there are cases in which it is ineffective against ED associated with diabetes mellitus or neuropathy after radical prostatectomy. 4 , 5 The effect of chronic administration of PDE‐5 inhibitors as a treatment for refractory ED was investigated.…”

“…The first‐line drug used for ED treatment is a PDE‐5 inhibitor. PDE‐5 inhibitors increase the concentration of cyclic GMP in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle, relax the smooth muscle, and affect erectile function 5,80–83 . Although PDE‐5 inhibitors have been shown to be effective against several types of ED, there are cases in which it is ineffective against ED associated with diabetes mellitus or neuropathy after radical prostatectomy 4,5 .…”

New insights in amelioration of rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury by triple effect of Diallyl trisulphide and Sildenafil on apoptosis, NF-κB and NRF-2/HO-1 signaling crosstalk

“…), one hour prior glycerol injection. All drug doses are selected according to previous reports (Gurbuz, Kol et al 2015). All rats were deprived from water with free access to food for 24 hrs and kept in metabolic cages for collection of urine.…”