Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) Does Not Cause Structural Changes in the Arterial Wall But Modulates Renal Artery Vascular Tone in Atherosclerosis-Induced Male Rabbits
[1]
Akeel AM Zwain, Department of Non-invasive Cardiovascular Studies, Najaf Cardiac Center, AlSadr Teaching Hospital, Kufa College of Medicine, Iraq.
[2]
Najah R. Hadi, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa Iraq.
[3]
Nada Alharis, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa Iraq.
[4]
Karrar H. Kemmona, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa Iraq.
[5]
Ahmed Almodhaffar, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa Iraq.
[6]
Premanand Ponoth, Kamakshi Memorial Hospital, chief of cardiothoracic surgery Channai, India.
Background: Phosphodistrase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are shown to improve vasomotor aspect of endothelial dysfunction through modulatory effects on nitric oxide NO-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO-cGMP) mediated responses. However, the effects of PDE-5 inhibitors on the progression of atherosclerosis and blood flow alteration need further evaluation. Aim: To investigate in atherosclerosis-induced male rabbits, whether a selective PDE-5 inhibitor (sildenafil), can prevent atherosclerosis progression or modulate blood flow in the aorta and renal arteries. Materials and Methods: Eighteen local domestic healthy male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups of six each. Group I, were fed a normal chow (oxiod) diet, for 12 weeks and served as a control. Group II, were fed with an atherogenic diet, for 12 weeks. Group III, rabbits that were fed with cholesterol enriched diet for six weeks, were treated with oral sildenafil 5mg/kg/day, for a further six weeks. All rabbits were subjected to ultrasound/Doppler study of the abdominal aorta, renal artery and intrarenal arteries, along with oxidative stress measurements. Autopsy of the aortic arch sectioning for histopathology was done at the end of the study. Results: Treatment with sildenafil resulted in non-significant reduction (P>0.05) in aortic diameter and intima-media thickness (IMT); sildenafil elicited an atherosclerotic effect that did not reach the significant level (P>0.05). There was no significant change ( p>0.05) in aortic flow peaked systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), pulsatility index (PI) , and resistive index (RI). Sildenafil caused significant reductions (P<0.05) in renal artery and intra-renal artery PSV, EDV, PI and RI. Conclusion: Sildenafil neither resulted in significant structural changes in the atherosclerotic aortic wall, nor caused alteration in the arterial blood flow. Sildenafil exerted a significant relaxant effect on the atherosclerotic renal artery and intra -renal arteries. These findings may have a clinical implication favoring the use of PDE-5 inhibitors (Sildenafil) in the treatment of patients with atherosclerosis and renal hypertension.
Sildenafil, PDE-5, Atherosclerosis, Hypercholestrolemic Rabbits, Doppler, Renal Artery, Intra-Renal Arteries Blood Flow
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