Stimulating effects of vardenafil, tadalafil, and udenafil on vascular endothelial growth factor, angiogenesis, vitamin D₃, bone morphogenic proteins in ovariectomized rats

Abstract

Objective

This study investigated the effect of vardenafil, tadalafil, and udenafil from phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5Is) on bone morphogenic-protein (BMP)2 and 4 levels, along with angiogenesis in ovariectomized rat’s kidney.

Method

Rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10). Sham: abdomen was opened, and closed. OVX: ovaries were removed. OVX + vardenafil, OVX + tadalafil, and OVX + udenafil groups: ovaries were removed and closed, and after 6 months from postoperative, 10 mg/kg of vardenafil, tadalafil, and udenafil were administrated as daily a single-dose for 60 days, respectively. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical examinations were performed for angiogenesis, and biochemical analysis for vascular endothelial growth-factor (VEGF), VitaminD₃, BMP2 and 4 levels in rat’s kidney.

Results

VEGF, BMP2 and 4, VitaminD₃, and angiogenesis were high in the all inhibitor groups compared with the sham and OVX (p < .05). However, BMP4 levels were only high in the OVX + tadalafil group (p < .05).

Conclusion

The results indicated that vardenafil, udenafil, and especially tadalafil increased VEGF, BMP2, and VitaminD₃ levels.

Keywords:

• Angiogenesis
• phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor
• ovariectomy
• bone morphogenetic protein
• vitamin D

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by opportunities from the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Van Yuzuncu Yıl University and Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, Ataturk University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).