Effect of pentoxifylline on veno-occlusive priapism-induced corporeal tissue lipid peroxidation in a rat model

To investigate whether pentoxifylline could play a role in attenuation of the hazardous effects of ischemia/reperfusion on corporeal tissue in a rat model of veno-occlusive priapism (VOP).

Placebo and pentoxifylline were given to eight groups of rats prior to priapism being induced by a vacuum constrictive device for durations of 6 and 12 h, respectively. Half of the groups of rats that underwent the same duration of priapism (ischemic) were subjected to 1 h of detumescence after band removal (reperfusion). One group underwent no manipulation and no drug administration and served as a baseline determination (control). Corporeal homogenates were examined for lipid peroxidation (LP) derived malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation via thiobarbituric acid assay.

MDA concentration differed significantly between VOP rats and controls (P < 0.001) but did not differ significantly between ischemic-only groups and reperfused groups (P < 0.05). In the pentoxifylline-pretreated groups, although MDA accumulation tended to be slightly lower than in the placebo groups, the difference was not statistically significant (P < 0.05) either in the 6- or 12-h duration priapic groups.

LP, an indicator of radical oxygen metabolite (ROM) induced injury, occurs in rat corporeal tissue during and after abolishment of VOP. Single-dose pentoxifylline pretreatment failed to exert a protective effect on corporeal tissue in a rat model of VOP in terms of attenuation of LP.