Effect of PDE-5 inhibition on testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model
DOI: 10.22591/magyurol.2021.2.oroszim.66
Authors:
Oroszi Márton dr.1, Szabó Andrea dr.2, Bajory Zoltán dr.1
1SZTE SZAKK, Urológiai Klinika, Szeged (igazgató: Bajory Zoltán dr.)
2SZTE, Sebészeti Műtéttani intézet, Szeged (igazgató: Boros Mihály dr.)
Summary
Introduction: During torsion, testicular tissue can suffer irreversible hypoxic damage within a short period of time. Therefore, testicular torsion requires an immediate solution. Because preoperative preparation takes time, a drug that may alleviate short- and long-term ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) damage to the testis administered preoperatively may be extremely important. In the present study, we demonstrate the beneficial effect of intravenous PDE-5 inhibitor sildenafil on microcirculatory damage following torsion in a rat model.
Material and method: 11 male Sprage-Dawley rats (250 g ± 10 g) were examined by fluorescent intravital video microscopy (IVM) to examine testicular microcirculation (erythrocyte flow rate and pulsatility in capillaries), before torsion, immediately after 60 min of torsion, and after 1-4. hours of reperfusion. The animals were randomly divided into 2 groups. In the first group animals received 0.7 mg/kg sildenafil intravenously in the at 50th minutes of torsion (n=5), while individuals in the control group received 1 ml/kg saline (solvent for sildenafil) intravenously at the 50th minutes (n=6).
Results: Following torsion, the flow rate and pulsatile flow pattern of RBCs deteriorated significantly in both groups. In the sildenafil-treated group, there was a significant improvement in study parameters compared to the control group at all-time points studied.
Conclusion: Intravenous sildenafil treatment improved I/R microcirculatory damage due to experimental testicular torsion. Based on these results, preoperative sildenafil therapy may also be beneficial in alleviating post-operative microcirculatory damage following clinical testicular torsion.