Histo-morphometric effects of sildenafil citrate was investigated on the testes of adult Wistar rats. Twenty five male Wistar rats were weighed before and after the experiment and categorized into four treatment groups and one control group of five rats per group (n=5). They were treated with the following regimen for eight weeks duration. The control group (A) received feed mash and water ad libitum. Treatment groups B and C were the normoglycaemic groups and received low dose (1mg/kg body weight) and high dose (2mg/kg body weight) of sildenafil citrate, respectively. Groups D and E were the hyperglycaemic groups, treated with low dose (1 mg/kg body weight) and high dose (2 mg/kg body weight) of sildenafil citrate, respectively. Blood samples were collected for hormonal assay and the testes were excised and processed for morpholological changes.The results obtained showed significant (P<0.05) loss in both body and testicular weight in the hyperglycaemic groups, but insignificant (P>0.05) body weight gain in the normoglycaemic groups and insignificant (P>0.05) epididymal weight difference loss in all the treatment groups, compared to control. The hormone assay showed significant (P<0.05) difference in the levels of FSH, LH, testosterone and oestrogen in the hyperglycaemic groups compared to control. Testicular and epididymal tissues revealed mild distortions in hyperglycaemic treatments but with dose dependent improvement while the changes in the normoglycaemic treatments were essentially non-remarkable. The results suggest relative safety of sildenafil citrate in normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic states, with beneficial testicular effects in the latter condition.
Keywords: Hyperglycaemia, Normoglycaemia, Sildenafil Citrate, Wistar rats, testis
