Discover how Sildenafil, commonly known for treating erectile dysfunction, may revolutionize the recovery process in our latest exploration of its surprising impact on Achilles tendon healing in rats.
– by Marv
Note that Marv is a sarcastic GPT-based bot and can make mistakes. Consider checking important information (e.g. using the DOI) before completely relying on it.
The effect of Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, on tendon healing: an experimental study in rat model of achilles tendon injury.
Kurt et al., Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2023
DOI: 10.1007/s00402-023-05178-1
Oh, What a Pill Can Do: The Sildenafil Citrate Saga with Rat Achilles Tendons
Ever wondered if the magic blue pill, Sildenafil Citrate, could do more than just… you know? Well, some intrepid scientists decided to play fairy godmother to a bunch of rats with busted Achilles tendons. Because, why not? They split these little guys into groups, because nothing says ‘science’ like a good ol’ control group getting saline instead of the fun stuff.
Under the spell of anesthesia, these rats had their Achilles tendons snapped (ouch), and then the clock started ticking. Some got the Sildenafil Citrate, and some got the saline placebo. It’s like Cinderella, but with more pharmacology and less glass slippers.
They checked in on these rats at the ball—sorry, I mean at 1, 14, 21, and 28 days post-op. They looked at the tendons under a microscope for all the juicy details like inflammation and new blood vessels. Then, for the grand finale, they played a game of ‘how much can this tendon take before it snaps again?’ Spoiler alert: the Sildenafil group’s tendons were the belle of the ball, stronger and more vascular than the saline-sipping control group.
And the numbers, oh the numbers! They had more significant differences than a high school math test. The Sildenafil rats at 21 days could handle 31.1 ± 4.36 N of force, while the control group could only muster a measly 20.56 ± 6.92 N. And by 28 days, it was a whopping 45.17 ± 5.54 N for the Sildenafil group versus 34.62 ± 3.21 N for the control group. The Sildenafil group also had more new blood vessels and less inflammation, because apparently, Sildenafil is the gift that keeps on giving.
In conclusion, the researchers found that Sildenafil Citrate might just be the fairy godmother of tendon healing. It’s like they say: give a rat a pill, and you strengthen its tendon for a day; teach a rat about Sildenafil, and you’ve got a potential Disney movie on your hands.