Effects of sildenafil citrate on testicular histology and sperm count during wound healing process in diabetic rats

Abstract

Background: This study was carried out to determine the effects of sildenafil citrate on morphology of the testes and spermatogenesis during wound healing process in diabetic rats. Eighteen adult male Wistar rats randomly divided into two groups (A and B) of 9 rats per group were treated orally with sildenafil citrate at a dose of 50 mg/kg for 21 days and or/single dose of intraperitoneal injection of insulin (10 IU). Before treatment, type 1 diabetes mellitus was induced in group A by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (130 mg/kg) and a squareshaped wound measuring 1.5 cm² was created under anesthesia with ketamine at the dose rate of 50 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection on the dorsum of rats in all groups with the exception of 3 rats in group B. From each of the two groups (A and B), 9 rats were humanely sacrificed for histology and sperm count. This was done after the administration of the sildenafil citrate on day 21. The results of the study showed significant (p<0.05) decrease in testicular and epididymal sperm head counts. Sections of the testes showed severe vacuolar degeneration of germinal epithelial cells in the seminiferous tubules in diabetic rats during the 21 days of treatment with sildenafil citrate. This indicates that sildenafil citrate may not have any protective effect against testicular injury due to wound healing process in diabetic rats.