Comment on “Positive outcomes of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor on histopathologic and biochemical changes induced by ureteral obstruction”

Dear Editor,

We read with great interest the study by Köktürk et al.¹ in which they demonstrated that tadalafil prevents or slows down the onset of ureter inflammation and urothelial degeneration in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction. In my opinion, there are some issues that should be addressed.

This was a experiment study and an interesting topic. To begin with, the age of the experimental rats is not provided, which is very important for the author. The authors divided the rats into five groups. Additionally, phosphodiesterase type 5 level or activity was not determined in the unilateral ureteral obstruction mice model. I believe that phosphodiesterase type 5 level or activity should be tested in a future study. The level or activity of phosphodiesterase 5 may change with the change of expressions of alpha-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor-beta. The underlying relationship between phosphodiesterase type 5 and transforming growth factor-beta should be explored.

It is difficult to reach the conclusion that tadalafil prevents or slows down the onset of ureter inflammation and urothelial degeneration in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction. If we want to draw a reliable conclusion, more group experiments should be done, such as by giving inhibitors first and then performing surgery for unilateral ureteral obstruction and, at the same time and in another group, performing surgery first and then giving inhibitors.

REFERENCE

• ¹
  Köktürk S, Benli E, Ayyıldız A, Cırrık S, Çetinkol Y, Ayyıldız SN, et al. Positive outcomes of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor on histopathologic and biochemical changes induced by ureteral obstruction. Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2019;65(3):388-93.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  24 Aug 2020
• Date of issue
  July 2020

History

• Received
  26 Jan 2020
• Accepted
  10 Feb 2020