Vardenafil is a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, preserving and increasing the levels of cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate) in soft muscle of the penis and increasing the erection duration. These vasodilators have protective effects on vascular structures. In this study we evaluated the effect of vardenafil on testicular toxicity induced by colchicine in rats.
Forty male adult albino rats were divided into 4 groups of 10 animals each. First group(control) received 1 ml of distilled water orally and injected with 0.2 ml saline subcutaneously (s.c.), second group (Vardenafil) received 1mg/kg /day vardenafil orally, third group (Colchicine) received 25 mg/kg/day of colchicine s.c. and fourth group (Colchicine + Vardenafil) received 25 mg/kg/day colchicine s.c. with vardenafil 1 mg/kg /day orally. The period of the experimental study extended to 28 days. At the end of the study the rats and testes were weighed and testicular toxicity was evaluated by investigating seminal parameters and testicular histopathological changes. Administration of colchicine led to significant decrease in sperm count, motility and viability with significant increase in abnormal sperm forms when compared to control group rats. There was non-significant change regarding both body and testicular weights after administration of colchicine when compared to control group rats. Histopathological changes showed damaged seminiferous tubules, depletion of spermatogenic cells with disruption and thickening of the basement membrane. Some tubules became shrunken and filled with debris of shedded cells and arrested spermatogenesis was noticed in scattered tubules with spermatogenic vacuolations and degenerated mitochondria. Administration of vardenafil with colchicine led to significant decrease of colchicine side effects on seminal parameters and testicular histopathological changes. It is concluded that treatment with vardenafil limits testicular toxicity induced by colchicine.