Vatansever H S, Kayikcioglu O, Gumus B
Department of Histology & Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, Manisa-Turkey.
Indian J Med Res. 2003 May;117:211-5.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Sildenafil citrate is an oral medication used to treat male impotence by the inhibition of phosphodiesterase-5 in the corpus cavernosum and subsequent facilitation of penile erection. Though the ocular side effects of sildenafil have been reported, no information is available on the histopathologic effects of chronic use of sildenafil citrate on the ocular vasculature. The present study was undertaken to study the histopathologic effects of chronic use of sildenafil on the retina and choroid of male rats.
Twelve adult male Wistar rats were used in the study. Six of them were given 8 mg/kg/day sildenafil citrate orally on alternate days, the other six rats were used as control. The animals were sacrificed after 4 wk of treatment, and the eyes were fixed in 10 per cent formalin solution and sectioned after embedding in paraffin. Sections were cut, stained with haematoxylin-eosin (HE) or periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and examined under light microscope. The choroidal capillary diameter was also measured.
The choroidal capillaries were more dilated in the sildenafil citrate treated group (mean capillary diameter 3.44 +/- 1.68 microm versus the control of 1.78 +/- 1.36 microm, P < 0.001). The retinal layers and their configuration were unchanged in both the groups.
INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Chronic use of sildenafil citrate can cause dilatation and congestion in the choroidal vasculature of male rats.
枸橼酸西地那非是一种口服药物，通过抑制海绵体内磷酸二酯酶-5并随后促进阴茎勃起，用于治疗男性阳痿。虽然已有西地那非眼部副作用的报道，但关于长期使用枸橼酸西地那非对眼部血管的组织病理学影响尚无相关信息。本研究旨在探讨长期使用西地那非对雄性大鼠视网膜和脉络膜的组织病理学影响。
本研究使用12只成年雄性Wistar大鼠。其中6只大鼠每隔一天口服8mg/kg/天的枸橼酸西地那非，另外6只大鼠作为对照。治疗4周后处死动物，将眼睛固定于10%的福尔马林溶液中，石蜡包埋后切片。切片后进行苏木精-伊红（HE）或过碘酸希夫（PAS）染色，在光学显微镜下观察。同时测量脉络膜毛细血管直径。
枸橼酸西地那非治疗组的脉络膜毛细血管扩张更明显（平均毛细血管直径3.44±1.68μm，对照组为1.78±1.36μm，P<0.001）。两组的视网膜各层及其结构均未改变。
长期使用枸橼酸西地那非可导致雄性大鼠脉络膜血管扩张和充血。
