Background: Erectile dysfunction affects a growing number of men in the USA and abroad. Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors as sildenafil citrate are used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. SC is mainly metabolized in the liver. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that has hepatoprotective effects.
Objective: To reveal the histological alterations in liver of adult and senile rats treated with SC, and to explore the impact of vitamin C co-treatment.
Material and methods: Study was done at the Animal House, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University between July, and September 2021. Sixty male albino rats were used (equally divided into 5 groups); Each group was subdivided into two subgroups. Adult group containing 6 rats and senile group containing 6 rats. Group I: given water 10 ml/kg/d orally for 30 days; group II: given 10 mg/kg/d of SC orally for 30 days; group III: given 26mg/d of vitamin C one hour prior to 10 mg/kg/d of SC orally for 30 days; group IV: given 26mg/d of vitamin C orally for 30 days; group V: given 10 mg/kg/d of SC orally for 30 days, then left one month. Then, the animals were anesthetized, and tissues of liver were proceeded and microscopically examined.
Results: Histological changes were more severe in senile rats and significantly improved in vitamin C co-treatment and minimally improved in withdrawal group.
Conclusion: This study revealed that vitamin C might have a protective effect against sildenafil citrate induced hepatic injury.