Follicle development and luteal cell morphology altered by phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor.

Vardenafil citrate is a potent vasodilator used in the treatment of patients with erectile dysfunction. Its mechanism of action is based on the selective inhibition of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5), specific to guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). Recently, chronic treatment with Vardenafil has been successfully used in cases of pulmonary hypertension and, despite being used in high doses for long periods, little is known about its effects on other systems. In the present study, female mice were treated daily with 5 mg/kg Vardenafil for 4 weeks, after which the ovaries were collected for morphological analyses and sera were collected for biochemical assays. This study found that treatment with Vardenafil decreased HDL serum levels and the number of antral follicles as well as induced lesser lipid content in luteal cells, suggesting that high levels of cGMP may affect follicle development.