title: Effect of chronic administration of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) on the histology of the retina and optic nerve of adult male rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abnormal vision has been reported by 3% of patients treated with sildenafil citrate (Viagra). Although many men use Viagra for an extended period for treatment of erectile dysfunction, the implications of the long term-daily use of it on the retina and optic nerve are unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of chronic daily use of sildenafil citrate in a dose equivalent to men preferred therapeutic dose on the histology of the retina and optic nerve of adult male rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen adult male Wistar rats were equally divided into three groups. Group I: control. Group II: treated with sildenafil citrate orally (10mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Group III (withdrawal): treated as group II and then left for 4 weeks without treatment. Specimens from the retina and optic nerve were processed for light and electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In sildenafil citrate treated group, the retina and optic nerve revealed vacuolations and congested blood capillaries with apoptotic endothelial and pericytic cells, and thickened basal lamina. Caspase-3 (apoptotic marker) and CD31 (endothelial marker) expression increased. Glial cells revealed morphological changes: Müller cells lost their processes, activated microglia, astrocytic clasmatodendrosis, degenerated oligodendrocytes surrounded by disintegrated myelin sheathes of the optic nerve fibers. The retina and optic nerve of the withdrawal group revealed less vacuolations and congestion, and partial recovery of the glial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic treatment with sildenafil citrate (Viagra) caused toxic effect on the structure of the retina and optic nerve of the rat. Partial recovery was observed after drug withdrawal.
authors.affiliation: Histology and Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt. Electronic address: sohair_eltony@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sohair A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Eltony
authors.affiliation: Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sally Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Abdelhameed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D063928:Ependymoglial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate
keywords: Optic nerve; Retina; Sildenafil citrate; Viagra