Chronic sildenafil citrate use decreases retinal vascular endothelial growth factor expression in diabetic rats: a pilot study
Abstract Background Sildenafil citrate (SC) attenuates endothelial dysfunction. However, its effects on diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is mainly a microvascular disease, remain unclear. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be a critical mediator of DR. Therefore, we investigated t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Retina and Vitreous |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40942-023-00480-x |
| _version_ | 1797774041365348352 |
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| author | Osama A. Sorour Elsayed Nassar Naglaa Sarhan Noha El-Anwar Reem A ElKholy Dina M. Tahoon Aalaa Sweilam Dina Tadros |
| author_facet | Osama A. Sorour Elsayed Nassar Naglaa Sarhan Noha El-Anwar Reem A ElKholy Dina M. Tahoon Aalaa Sweilam Dina Tadros |
| author_sort | Osama A. Sorour |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Sildenafil citrate (SC) attenuates endothelial dysfunction. However, its effects on diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is mainly a microvascular disease, remain unclear. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be a critical mediator of DR. Therefore, we investigated the effects of SC on diabetic retina by measuring VEGF levels. Methods In this study, twenty-eight rats were divided into the following groups: group I, the control group; group II, rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes; group III, rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes receiving daily oral sildenafil at 1 mg/kg; and group IV, rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes receiving high-dose daily sildenafil at 2.5 mg/kg. After 3 months, VEGF was measured in the retina specimen in one eye and the vitreous body in the other eye by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results We found that VEGF expression in the retina was low in all rats from groups I and IV and in 30% of rats from group III; 80% of rats in group II demonstrated high VEGF expression in the retinae (P < 0.001). VEGF concentrations in the vitreous body samples were 32 ± 2, 61 ± 4, 44 ± 5, and 36 ± 3 pg/l in groups I–IV, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusion VEGF decreased significantly in the eyes of diabetic rats after chronic oral sildenafil citrate treatment. SC may have a modifying/attenuating effect on DR. However, further studies are needed to evaluate its use as an adjunctive treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:15:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a70f1af323ca4d8d8dad20f7f370a1c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-9920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:15:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Retina and Vitreous |
| spelling | doaj.art-a70f1af323ca4d8d8dad20f7f370a1c82023-07-23T11:21:55ZengBMCInternational Journal of Retina and Vitreous2056-99202023-07-01911710.1186/s40942-023-00480-xChronic sildenafil citrate use decreases retinal vascular endothelial growth factor expression in diabetic rats: a pilot studyOsama A. Sorour0Elsayed Nassar1Naglaa Sarhan2Noha El-Anwar3Reem A ElKholy4Dina M. Tahoon5Aalaa Sweilam6Dina Tadros7Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta UniversityDepartment of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta UniversityDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta UniversityAbstract Background Sildenafil citrate (SC) attenuates endothelial dysfunction. However, its effects on diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is mainly a microvascular disease, remain unclear. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be a critical mediator of DR. Therefore, we investigated the effects of SC on diabetic retina by measuring VEGF levels. Methods In this study, twenty-eight rats were divided into the following groups: group I, the control group; group II, rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes; group III, rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes receiving daily oral sildenafil at 1 mg/kg; and group IV, rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes receiving high-dose daily sildenafil at 2.5 mg/kg. After 3 months, VEGF was measured in the retina specimen in one eye and the vitreous body in the other eye by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results We found that VEGF expression in the retina was low in all rats from groups I and IV and in 30% of rats from group III; 80% of rats in group II demonstrated high VEGF expression in the retinae (P < 0.001). VEGF concentrations in the vitreous body samples were 32 ± 2, 61 ± 4, 44 ± 5, and 36 ± 3 pg/l in groups I–IV, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusion VEGF decreased significantly in the eyes of diabetic rats after chronic oral sildenafil citrate treatment. SC may have a modifying/attenuating effect on DR. However, further studies are needed to evaluate its use as an adjunctive treatment.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40942-023-00480-xVEGFSildenafilPDEI-5Diabetic retinopathyELISAImmunohistochemistry |
| spellingShingle | Osama A. Sorour Elsayed Nassar Naglaa Sarhan Noha El-Anwar Reem A ElKholy Dina M. Tahoon Aalaa Sweilam Dina Tadros Chronic sildenafil citrate use decreases retinal vascular endothelial growth factor expression in diabetic rats: a pilot study International Journal of Retina and Vitreous VEGF Sildenafil PDEI-5 Diabetic retinopathy ELISA Immunohistochemistry |
| title | Chronic sildenafil citrate use decreases retinal vascular endothelial growth factor expression in diabetic rats: a pilot study |
| title_full | Chronic sildenafil citrate use decreases retinal vascular endothelial growth factor expression in diabetic rats: a pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Chronic sildenafil citrate use decreases retinal vascular endothelial growth factor expression in diabetic rats: a pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chronic sildenafil citrate use decreases retinal vascular endothelial growth factor expression in diabetic rats: a pilot study |
| title_short | Chronic sildenafil citrate use decreases retinal vascular endothelial growth factor expression in diabetic rats: a pilot study |
| title_sort | chronic sildenafil citrate use decreases retinal vascular endothelial growth factor expression in diabetic rats a pilot study |
| topic | VEGF Sildenafil PDEI-5 Diabetic retinopathy ELISA Immunohistochemistry |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40942-023-00480-x |
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