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Turkish Journal of Surgery logoLink to Turkish Journal of Surgery
. 2018 Jul 1;34(2):111–116. doi: 10.5152/turkjsurg.2018.3771

Effect of sildenafil citrate on the liver structure and function in obstructive jaundice: An experimental study

Tamer Şimşek 1, Ömer Faik Ersoy 1, Zeki Özsoy 1,✉, Erdinç Yenidoğan 1, Hüseyin Ayhan Kayaoğlu 1, Namık Özkan 1, Mustafa Şahin 1
PMCID: PMC6048637  PMID: 30023974

Abstract

Objective

We aimed to investigate the effect of 10 mg/kg sildenafil on the structure and function of the liver in a rat model of obstructive jaundice.

Material and Methods

Sixty-two male Wistar albino rats were distributed into six different groups. Obstructive jaundice was performed by legating the common bile duct. 10 mg/kg sildenafil citrate in drinking water was delivered orally after the operation before sacrificing them. Rats were sacrificed either after 10 or 28 days according to the study design. The blood and tissue samples from the liver were obtained to perform a biochemical and histopathological analysis to study functional and structural changes in the liver.

Results

At the 10th day, there was no difference between the sildenafil-treated and control groups with regard to the aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels (p=0.423, p=0.661). The alkaline phosphatase total bilirubin levels among the groups were statistically different (p<0.001). At the 28th day, liver function tests except alanine aminotransferase showed significant differences among the groups (p<0.001). Liver function tests did not changed significantly between the 10th and 28th day in sildenafil-treated rats (p>0.05). Significant differences were observed among the groups with regard to cholestasis, fibrosis, inflammation, and necrosis (p<0.001). However, edema increased in the sildenafil-treated group (p<0.001). On the 28th day, the severity of structural changes in the liver after obstructive jaundice, except edema, reduced significantly (p<0.001). The sildenafil-treated groups at different time points didn’t show any statistical difference in histopathological changes (p>0.05).

Conclusion

Oral administration of 10 mg/kg sildenafil citrate dramatically reverses the biochemical and histopathological liver changes induced by obstructive jaundice in rats.

Keywords: Sildenafil citrate, liver, obstructive jaundice, rats

INTRODUCTION

Obstructive jaundice develops as a result of a bile obstruction in the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic biliary tract. The obstruction occurs somewhere between the bile production in the liver and its secretion in the gastrointestinal system (1). Depending on the etiology, an obstruction might be partial, or in some cases, a complete obstruction can occur. Clinical findings occurring with obstructive jaundice may be reversible with an early diagnosis and therapy when the cause of obstruction is removed. However, in some cases, when the cause of obstruction cannot be removed, or when the obstruction takes a longer time to clear, permanent functional and histopathologic changes can occur. The functional and structural changes that occur in the liver as a consequence of obstructive jaundice could return to normal after only days or weeks following an internal or external drainage process (2). For this reason, to minimize the development of liver injury in obstructive jaundice, several agents and methods have been and are still being investigated (3–7).

Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) enzyme inhibitors have different impacts on hemodynamic parameters in the liver (8). Sildenafil citrate is also a PDE-5 inhibitor and is often used for erectile dysfunction (8). Sildenafil causes the c-GMP levels to increase by inactivating PDEs that metabolize c-GMP. Furthermore, c-GMP is an intracellular mediator of the nitric oxide (NO) pathway and causes an increase in NO synthesis. NO causes relaxation of the vascular smooth muscle structure, vasodilatation, increases in blood flow, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and inhibition of both platelet aggregation and microcirculation (9). Under physiological conditions, NO plays an important role in the liver’s microvascular blood flow (10).

In this study, we aimed to investigate the impacts of daily oral sildenafil (10 mg/kg) on functional and structural liver changes at 10 and 28 days of an experimental obstructive jaundice model in rats.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Procedure and Evaluation

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Gaziosmanpasa University Medical Faculty. Rats were obtained from the Gaziosmanpasa University Experimental Research Center. All animals received humane care in accordance with local laboratory animal research regulations. Sixty-two male Wistar albino rats, weighing 250 to 300 g, were randomly allocated into six groups (Sham 10; Sham 28; Control 10; Control 28; Sildenafil 10; and Sildenafil 28). All operative processes and follow-up treatments were held at Gaziosmanpasa University Animal Studies Research Center. Rats were housed in wire cages with free access to food and water under standard laboratory conditions (room temperature: 23 °C; 12-hour light–dark cycles). They were not fed for 12 hours before the operation, but they had free access to water.

Surgery and Experimental Protocol

Before the operative process, anesthesia was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of ketamine hydrochloride (75 mg/kg; Ketalar, 500 mg flacon; Pfizer, Istanbul, Turkey) and xylazine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg; Rompun 2% flacon; Bayer, Istanbul, Turkey). After skin preparation, a midline laparotomy of 2–3 cm was made. The duodenum was found by following the stomach and pylorus. Through a slightly forward and downward traction of the duodenum, the common bile duct extending from the liver hilum to the duodenum was seen. Holding the fatty tissue with a thin hemostat, the common bile duct was released (11).

  • Group 1 (Sham 10): The rats in this group underwent only the common bile duct exploration, and then the process was ended. The rats were sacrificed on the 10th day.

  • Group 2 (Sham 28): The rats in this group underwent only the common bile duct exploration, and then the process was ended. The rats were sacrificed on the 28th day.

  • Group 3 (Control 10): The rats in this group underwent a mechanical obstructive jaundice model, and then the process was ended. The rats were sacrificed on the 10th day.

  • Group 4 (Control 28): The rats in this group underwent a mechanical obstructive jaundice model, and then the process was ended. The rats were sacrificed on the 28th day.

  • Group 5 (Sildenafil 10): The rats in this group underwent a mechanical obstructive jaundice model, and then the process was ended. After the procedure, 10 mg/kg/day of sildenafil was given orally until the time of sacrifice. The rats were sacrificed on the 10th day.

  • Group 6 (Sildenafil 28): The rats in this group underwent a mechanical obstructive jaundice model, and then the process was ended. After the procedure, 10 mg/kg/day of sildenafil was given orally until the time of sacrifice. The rats were sacrificed on the 28th day.

Experimental obstructive jaundice was induced by a knot tied on the common bile duct with 4/0 silk sutures and transected so as to prevent recanalization. The fascia and skin were closed by 4/0 monofilament polypropylene (Prolene, Ethicon) running sutures. All animals were resuscitated by a subcutaneous injection of saline (8–10 mL/kg) to the dorsal area.

Drug Application

The drug was completely crushed and mixed with 2–3 ml of drinking water. Then it was thoroughly mixed until it became a homogenous suspension. Using a gavage injector, the solution was completely administered orally. Starting from the day of the operation until the rats were sacrificed, sildenafil citrate (Vıagra, Pfizer; Istanbul, Turkey) was given in a 10 mg/kg dose by gavage every day at the same hour.

Sacrifice and Collecting the Blood and Tissue Samples

The rats in the sham, control, and sildenafil group were sacrificed on the 10th (Sham 10, Control 10 and Sildenafil 10) or 28th day (Sham 28, Control 28 and Sildenafil 28) according to the study design. The blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical analysis of liver functions and for histopathological evaluation of liver structural changes. Sacrifice was performed in accordance with laboratory conditions. Before the procedure, the rats were anesthetized with 30 mg/kg hydrochloride and 5 mg/kg xylazine. After the intracardiac blood sampling, a laparotomy through the previous incision was made, and a total hepatectomy was performed.

Biochemical Analyses of Liver Functions

The blood samples were centrifuged for 5 minutes at 2,000 rpm, and the plasma was separated. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST; U/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT; U/L), alkaline phosphatase (ALP; U/L) and total and direct bilirubin (TBIL and DBIL, respectively; mg/dl) levels were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Histopathological Evaluation of Liver Structural Changes

The histological evaluations of the specimens were performed by the same blinded pathologist. The hepatic tissue specimens were fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 5 μm, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological evaluation. Histopathological examinations of the prepared samples were done by light microscopy. In the examination of the liver tissue samples, ductal proliferation, periductal edema, cholestasis, portal and periductal inflammation, and the presence of necrosis were examined. The extent of histopathological changes in the liver tissue was graded by using a 4-point scoring system (0, none; 1, mild; 2, moderate; and 3, severe).

Statistical Analysis

All data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 13.0 (SPSS Inc.; Chicago, IL, USA). Statistical evaluation of numeric variables was performed by a one-way analysis of variance, followed by a Tukey’s post hoc test. Non-numeric variables were evaluated with the χ2 test. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

No intraoperative or postoperative deaths occurred in the rats. We also did not observe any infective complications in either the control or experimental groups during the followup period.

Biochemical Measurements

Liver function tests after 10 and 28 days showed a significant difference between the sham group and other groups (p<0.001). Although there was a decrease in the AST, ALT, and DBIL levels of the groups treated with sildenafil when compared to the control groups, this difference was not statistically significant. For the ALP and TBIL levels, a significant difference was seen among all groups (p<0.001) (Figure 1). On the 28th day, there were significant differences in the AST, ALP, TBIL, and DBIL measurements between the sildenafil group and the control group (p<0.001). A decrease was also seen in ALT levels, but this was not significant (p=0.1) (Figure 1). On the 10th and 28th days, when the sildenafil groups were compared between each other in terms of liver function tests, no significant difference was seen (p>0.05).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Results of Liver Function Tests

AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; ALP: alkaline phosphatase; TBIL: total bilirubin; DBIL: direct bilirubin

* Statistically significant (p<0.001)

Histopathological Evaluations

On the 10th and 28th days, a significant difference arising from the sham group was seen with regard to ductal proliferation (p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the control group and sildenafil group (p>0.05). On the 10th and 28th days, a significant difference regarding cholestasis, fibrosis, edema, inflammation, and necrosis were detected in all groups (p<0.001). In the sildenafil group, a significant decrease in cholestasis, fibrosis, inflammation, and necrosis levels were noticed (p<0.001). In this group, edema increased on the 10th day (p<0.001) and remained the same on the 28th day (p=0.112). On the 10th and 28th days, no significant differences were seen in terms of histopathological changes when the sildenafil groups were compared with each other (p>0.05). However, although there was no significant difference, an increase in the level of ductal proliferation, fibrosis, and necrosis, and a decrease in edema and inflammation were observed on the 28th day. There was no change in cholestasis levels. Histopathological changes in the liver induced by sildenafil citrate in rats are presented in Figure 2.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Histopathological Changes in the Liver Induced by Sildenafil Citrate in Rats

In the examination of liver tissue samples, ductal proliferation, periductal edema, cholestasis, portal and periductal inflammation, and the presence of necrosis were examined. The extent of histopathological changes in the liver tissue was graded by using a 4 point scoring system (0, none; 1, mild; 2, moderate; and 3, severe)

Significant differences were observed among the groups with regard to cholestasis, fibrosis, inflammation, and necrosis (p<0.001). However, edema increased in the sildenafil-treated group (p<0.001). At the 28th day, the severity of structural changes in the liver after obstructive jaundice, except edema, was reduced significantly (p<0.001)

DISCUSSION

Obstructive jaundice is an area intensively studied both experimentally and clinically. However, despite new improvements in its treatment, it is still one of the most important surgical problems. Endotoxemia has a significant role in the pathophysiological changes that occur (12). Two factors are responsible for endotoxemia development. The first is the absence of an anti-endotoxin effect provided by bile salts in the digestive tract, and the absorption of endotoxins into the portal circulation. The second is the escape of endotoxins arising from the bowels into the systemic circulation due to the impairment of phagocytic functions of the hepatic Kupffer cells (13, 14). Emerging systemic endotoxemia activates an inflammatory response causing organ functions to deteriorate. Related to these changes, a clinical picture might develop with severe morbidity and mortality, and it may include conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, renal failure, hepatorenal syndrome, several cardiovascular problems, and multiple organ failure (15). Thus, for these reasons, obstructive jaundice is extensively studied both experimentally and clinically. While in hepatocellular damage the increase in AST is more prominent, in obstructive jaundice, the increases in ALP, TBIL, and DBIL are at the forefront (16). In our study, the highest levels among the control groups in terms of liver function tests were observed remarkably on the 28th day. The reason for this is due to the damage of prolonged biliary retention on liver cells (17). In our study, the decrease in ALP and TBIL levels in liver function tests were significant in the group treated with sildenafil for 10 days. On the 28th day, a decrease in all liver function tests, except for ALT, was seen in all the sildenafil groups. This result shows that the long-term use of sildenafil is effective in recovery of liver function tests that decreased due to obstructive jaundice.

In obstructive jaundice, an increase in the biliary pressure due to the accumulation of bile salts occurs in the common bile duct. During the first week of the obstruction, edema, neutrophils, and lymphocytes might be seen in the portal area. Along with portal inflammation, bile duct proliferation is observed in the periportal area. If the obstruction continues, fibrosis and fibrous septa are noticed along periportal and periseptal areas, which are indicators of chronic cholestasis. Related to the increased collagen content, hepatic stricture occurs. The regenerative ability of the liver decreases, and fibrogenic activity increases. Fibrosis then replaces the normal liver structure. The causes of bile infarcts developed during the late period include a duct damage related to increased biliary pressure, the direct impact of bile components on hepatocytes, and the indirect impacts of bilirubin and bile acids in the blood. As the infarct develops, fibrotic and necrotic areas increase, and the tissue damage becomes permanent. Morphological changes continuing in the liver result in the occurrence of secondary biliary cirrhosis and regeneration nodules after months (17). In electron microscopic studies of the obstructive jaundice model, hepatocytes were observed to lose their secretory functions. It was found that mitochondria swelled, and serious deformities occurred. Additionally, due to the decrease in protein synthesis, gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis disorders of mitochondrial activity were found (18, 19). In our study, we found a significant decrease in many of the negative effects of delayed bile emptying in the early (10th day) and late (28th day) periods on liver tissue in the obstructive jaundiced rats treated with sildenafil. For instance, decreases in cholestasis, fibrosis, inflammation, and necrosis were observed in both time periods; however, edema was increased only in the early period.

The vasodilatation effect of sildenafil and PDE-5 inhibitors causes the activation of kinases through the release of endogenic mediators such as bradykinin and/or adenosine and subsequent NO synthesis. NO forms c-GMP by activating guanylate cyclase. C-GMP opens mitochondrial K-ATP channels by protein kinase G (PKG) activation. It is thought that, in cases when intracellular pH and ATP synthesis decrease, as with ischemia-reperfusion, the opening of these channels reactivates metabolic functions by stabilizing the intracellular acidic environment, and therefore, it might be effective in preventing damage. K-ATP channels are found not only in the heart, but also in all endothelial cells of the body.

NO exerts a positive impact on several stages of wound recovery due to its effects on angiogenesis and inflammation in the endothelium and epithelium. Kim et al. (20) showed that necrosis developing in ischemia-reperfusion damage of NO can be prevented by c-GMP and the guanylate cyclase–dependent kinase pathway. Gursoy et al. (21) researched the impact of sildenafil on wound recovery and showed that sildenafil makes a positive contribution by increasing the neovascularization and abdominal wall tensile force. Cakir et al. (22) stated that sildenafil had a histopathologically positive impact on colon anastomosis recovery. Sarifakioglu et al. (23) examined the effect of sildenafil citrate on the flap life and showed that it increased the length of flap life, a property they suggest comes from two sildenafil features. These features include the promotion of increased vasodilation and the prevention of potential vascular thromboses by affecting thrombosis aggregation. Tas et al. (24) showed that sildenafil increased new capillary formation as well as vasodilatation. Furthermore, Irkorucu et al. (25) found that sildenafil causes a decrease in mucosal damage.

As for the liver, sildenafil decreases vascular resistance by increasing the NO release and decreasing the portal pressure (26, 27). Colle et al. (28) examined the impact of sildenafil on rats with experimentally induced cirrhosis. They founded that intramesenteric and intravenous injections of sildenafil decreased the mean arterial blood pressure and increased the mesenteric blood flow and portal venous pressure, depending on the dosage. In a different study, it was stated that no significant increase was observed in superior mesenteric artery blood flow in an experimental obstructive jaundice model when NO synthesis was prevented; subsequently, no significant recovery occurred in either liver functions or tissue histopathological changes (29). Li et al. (30) examined the impact of sildenafil in experimental liver damage in rats. They found that liver hypoxia and liver damage decreased due to the increase in smooth muscle relaxation caused by increased NO levels generated by sildenafil. At the end of this study, they concluded that sildenafil might prevent damage in post-ischemia hepatocytes by regulating oxygen consumption.

Although it is rare according to literature, in some studies, hepatotoxicity is reported to be caused by sildenafil. The sildenafil citrate was investigated in a study published in 2011, in terms of its histological effects on adult Wistar rats that were treated with sildenafil every day, for a period of 6 weeks (31). Regarding the histological results, the study reported a dilatation of the central vein of the liver with lysed red blood cells and a cytoarchitectural distortion of the organ. Increased levels of liver enzymes were also noted. It was suggested that a probable toxic effect of sildenafil might have affected the hematopoietic function of the liver to a great extent. The study conducted by Nna et al. (32) reports that as it is indicated in the increased serum concentration of liver enzymes and bilirubin, significant alteration in liver functions could occur following the chronic administration of sildenafil in adult Wistar rats; and only a poor reversal of hepatotoxicity was observed after the withdrawal of the sildenafil. Jarrar and Almansour. (33) reported that significant biochemical and structural alterations in the hepatic tissue that have potential effects on liver functions were observed as a result of subchronic exposure to sildenafil overdoses (e.g., hepatocytes nuclear alterations, necrosis, bile duct hyperplasia, inflammatory cells infiltration, hepatic vessels congestion). Even though a possible link between hepatotoxicity and the use of sildenafil is indicated in the related literature, the mechanism underlying liver toxicity still remains unknown. However, it should be considered that the manifestations of drug-induced hepatotoxicity are highly variable, ranging from asymptomatic elevation of liver enzymes to fulminant hepatic failure, and so it could be possible that some sildenafil-associated hepatotoxicity cases may have been totally missed, especially when sildenafil consumption is not declared, illicit, and/or unaware (i.e., in case of counterfeit herbal products for erectile dysfunction) (34–37). Normality values were noted in clinical condition and liver enzymes within 20 days after the withdrawal of sildenafil, which indicates a diagnosis of sildenafil-associated hepatotoxicity from unknown mechanisms (34).

There are some limitations to this study. First, based on the molecular mechanisms mentioned before, an increased NO synthesis might have led to the positive biochemical and histopathological effect of sildenafil on hepatocytes in obstructive jaundice in this study. However, this study did not research this issue. Second, obstructive jaundice has been reported to cause significant oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction in the liver. Although this study showed that inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis reduced with treatment, its antioxidative effect was not assessed.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the use of 10 mg/kg of sildenafil by an oral route for 10 and 28 days in an experimental obstructive jaundice model might amend the functional and structural liver changes occurring during biliary obstruction. In this model, the inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis observed in the liver tissue during prolonged jaundice decreased significantly with sildenafil. We think that the effect of sildenafil on obstructive jaundice should be investigated in more detail both at the molecular level and with regard to its clinical use.

Footnotes

This study was presented at the “XVI. Annual Meeting of the European Society”, 22–24 November, 2012, İstanbul, Turkey.

Ethics Committee Approval: Ethics committee approval was received for this study from the ethics committee of Gaziosmanpaşa University School of Medicine.

Informed Consent: Not required in this study.

Peer-review: Externally peer-reviewed.

Author Contributions: Concept - T.S., O.F.E., N.O.; Design - T.S., O.F.E., Z.O., N.O.; Supervision - E.T., H.A.K.; Resource - T.S., O.F.E.; Materials - T.S., O.F.E., N.O., Z.O.; Data Collection and/or Processing - T.S., O.F.E., Z.O.; Analysis and/or Interpretation - T.S., O.F.E., Z.O.; Literature Search - T.S., Z.O.; Writing Manuscript - T.S., O.F.E., Z.O., E.Y.; Critical Reviews - Z.O., H.A.K.

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Financial Disclosure: The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.

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