title: Effects of the recreational use of PDE5 inhibitors on the corpus cavernosum of young, healthy rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Bakırkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Tevfik Saglam Cad. No: 11, 34000, Zuhuratbaba, Istanbul, Turkey, simsek76@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Abdulmuttalip
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tugcu
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Erturkuner
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alkan
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozbek
authors.forename: Ali Ihsan
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Tasci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D003094:Collagen / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D010413:Penis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011687:Purines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D013450:Sulfones / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068581:Tadalafil; D014227:Triazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride
chemical_list: D002243:Carbolines; D007093:Imidazoles; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013450:Sulfones; D014227:Triazines; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; D000068581:Tadalafil; D003094:Collagen; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate