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Effects of the recreational use of PDE5 inhibitors on the corpus cavernosum of young, healthy rats

  • Urology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Purpose

PDE5 inhibitors are widely used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, these drugs have recently become popular among men without erectile dysfunction as a means of enhancing sexual performance and improving sexual desire. The aim of this study was to investigate the histopathological and ultrastructural effects of PDE5 inhibitors on the corpus cavernosum in young, healthy male rats.

Methods

Twenty-four 4-month-old male rats were divided into four groups: group 1 was the control group, group 2 rats received sildenafil citrate, group 3 rats received vardenafil hydrochloride, and group 4 rats received tadalafil. All drugs were administered for 4 weeks. Penile tissue was collected for electron microscopy and tissue collagen measurements. Electron microscopic analysis indicated that the number of active fibroblasts and macrophages and the synthesis of new collagen fibers increased in treated rats.

Results

Cavernous tissue collagen levels were significantly higher in the sildenafil-, vardenafil-, and tadalafil-treated groups than in controls (46.16 ± 4.9, 42.06 ± 2.4, 41.07 ± 2.4, and 29.20 ± 3.3, respectively) (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Young men who use these drugs to enhance performance in the absence of erectile dysfunction may experience irreversible damage to the cavernosal tissue. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms by which PDE5 inhibitors affect the corpus cavernosum.

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Conflict of interest

All authors declare that there are no competing financial interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Bakırkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Tevfik Saglam Cad. No: 11, 34000, Zuhuratbaba, Istanbul, Turkey

    Abdulmuttalip Simsek, Volkan Tugcu & Ali Ihsan Tasci

  2. Department of Histology and Embryology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey

    Pelin Erturkuner & Faruk Alkan

  3. Department of Urology, Okmeyadani Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Emin Ozbek

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  1. Abdulmuttalip Simsek
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  2. Volkan Tugcu
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  3. Pelin Erturkuner
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  4. Faruk Alkan
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  5. Emin Ozbek
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  6. Ali Ihsan Tasci
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Correspondence to Abdulmuttalip Simsek.

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Simsek, A., Tugcu, V., Erturkuner, P. et al. Effects of the recreational use of PDE5 inhibitors on the corpus cavernosum of young, healthy rats. Int Urol Nephrol 46, 1889–1893 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-014-0746-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-014-0746-6

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