EFFECTS OF TADALAFIL AND/OR SILYMARIN ON GONADAL FUNCTION IN ADULTS MALE ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Taldalafil is a long acting phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor widely used in thetreatment of erectile dysfunction. The abuse of tadalafil, which is a worldwideproblem, is associated with many side effects. Sylimarin considered as a herbal drug,its active constituents are silybin, isosilybin, silydianin and silychristin. Acontroversy exist with regard to the effects of tadalafil and silymarin on gonadalfunction in animal species. The present study aimed to investigate the effects oftadalafil and/or sylimarin on gonadal function adult male rates. Twenty four male ratsare used in the study, they divided into 4 groups (n=6) and gavaged daily for 1 monthas follows; 1-control(0.5ml distilled water), 2-tadalafil (10mg tadalafil/kg ), 3-silymarin (100 mg silymarin/ kg) and 4-tadalafil + silymarin ( 10 mg tadalafil and 100silymarin mg/ kg). Tadalafil significantly increases serum testosterone and decreasesLH and FSH, it adversely affect the process of spermatogenesis (sperm count andpercentage of motile, dead, and abnormal sperms). While, silymarin significantlyincreases serum testosterone, LH and FSH and improve spermatogenesis. Serumtestosterone remains significantly higher in tadalafil+silymarin group compared withcontrol group, while FSH and LH and parameters of spermatogenesis becameinsignificantly different from those in control group.