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Updated: Apr 5, 2026

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Published on: May 10, 2024
Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, attenuates diabetic nephropathy in STZ-induced diabetic rats
Background:
The present study evaluates the possible mechanism of sildenafil citrate (SIL) for the attenuation of renal failure in diabetic nephropathic (DN) animals.
Methods:
Diabetic nephropathy was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg, i.p.) and confirmed by assessing the blood and urine biochemical parameters on the 28th day of its induction. The selected DN animals were treated with glimepiride (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) and SIL (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) for a period of 6 weeks. Biochemical parameters in blood and urine were estimated after the 29th and 70th day of the protocol for the estimation of the effect of SIL.
Result:
There were significant alterations in the blood and urine biochemical parameters in STZ-treated groups which confirmed DN. There was a significant decrease in the triglyceride level in the SIL-only-treated group on the 70th day of the protocol. The histopathology study also suggested that SIL treatment results in the improvement in the podocyte count in DN animals.
Conclusions:
The present study concludes that SIL improves the renal function by decreasing the triglyceride level and improving the podocyte count in DN animals.
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