Effects of Sildenafil on Oxidative and Inflammatory Injuries of the Kidney in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Background: Oxidative stress and inflammation are implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Because sildenafil citrate (Viagra®) has variable cardiovascular benefits, including antioxidative and immunomodulating effects, we investigated its influence on oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic rat kidney. Methods: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats received sildenafil (3 mg/kg/day in drinking water) or not (undosed water) for 8 weeks and were compared to age-matched nondiabetic animals. We evaluated 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG; for oxidative DNA damage), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitrotyrosine (for excessive NO production and peroxynitrite formation), and representative chemoattractants [monocyte chemotactic protein-1, MCP-1; for inflammation and monocyte/macrophage infiltrations (ED-1)] in the kidney. Results: Sildenafil-treated rats had a lower kidney-to-body weight ratio than untreated diabetic rats. Urinary albumin excretion in diabetic rats decreased significantly after sildenafil treatment without changes in systolic blood pressure. Sildenafil-treated rats had significantly lower urinary and renal cortical 8-OHdG levels than the nonsildenafil group. Sildenafil administration significantly attenuated the increased renal nitrotyrosine protein expression, positive iNOS and ED-1 staining in glomeruli and tubulointerstitium, and nitrotyrosine staining in tubulointerstitium. Cortical MCP-1 RNA expression in the sildenafil group was significantly lower than in the nonsildenafil group. Conclusions: Sildenafil treatment may attenuate renal damage by ameliorating oxidative and inflammatory injuries in diabetic rats.

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