Effects of different vardenafil doses on bone healing in a rat fracture model

• Published in: Joint diseases and related surgery 2021-01, Vol.32 (2), p.313-322
• Main Authors: Atcı, Tolgahan, Alagöz, Ender, Yaprak Saraç, Elif, Özbay, Hakan, Fatih Daşcı, Mustafa, Acar, Abdurrahman, Karabulut, Derya, Akif Güleç, Mehmet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 2687-4784; 2687-4792
• DOI: 10.52312/jdrs.2021.72

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the radiological, biomechanical, histopathological, histomorphometric, and immunohistochemical effects of different doses of vardenafil on fracture healing. Materials and methods: Fifty-one rats were divided into three groups. Group V5 was given 5 mg/kg/day of vardenafil; Group V10 was given 10 mg/kg/day of vardenafil; and the control group was given the same volume of saline. Six rats from each group were sacrificed on Day 14 (early period) and the remaining rats were sacrificed on Day 42 (late period). Callus/femoral volume and bone mineral density were measured using micro- computed tomography. Five femurs from each group in the late period were examined by biomechanical tests. In addition to the histopathological and histomorphometric evaluations, immunohistochemical analyses were performed to examine the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), transforming growth factor-3 (TGF-β3), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) proteins. Results: Both doses of vardenafil increased primary bone volume and maximal bone fracture strength in late period, compared to the control group (p^lt;0.05). Histological healing scores of vardenafil groups were significantly higher in early period (p