Research Article

Sildenafil citrate improves microvascular density and healing in remnant gastric tissue after sleeve gastrectomy- An experimental study

Volume: 19 Number: 2 May 31, 2026
TR EN

Sildenafil citrate improves microvascular density and healing in remnant gastric tissue after sleeve gastrectomy- An experimental study

Abstract

Purpose: Obesity is a chronic, systemic, and multifactorial disease characterized by high morbidity rates. Sleeve gastrectomy (SG), one of the most frequently performed bariatric procedures, is a restrictive surgery where approximately 80% of the stomach is resected. Anastomotic leakage is one of the most fatal complications of this procedure, where tissue perfusion and healing play a critical role in prevention. This study aims to evaluate the effects of sildenafil citrate (SC), a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor, on microcirculation and oxidative stress parameters in the remnant gastric tissue following surgery. Method: Twenty male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into two groups: Control (SG) (n=10) and Experimental (SG+SC) (n=10). The control group received oral saline, while the experimental group was administered 10 mg/kg/day of sildenafil citrate for five days. On the fifth day, the rats underwent gastrectomy, and the remnant gastric tissues were analyzed biochemically and histopathologically. To evaluate oxidative stress, levels of nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and glutathione (GSH) were measured using ELISA kits. Findings: Sildenafil citrate treatment led to a significant decrease in TOS, oxidative stress index (OSI), and MDA levels compared to the control group. Conversely, a significant increase was observed in the antioxidant markers CAT, GSH, and SOD. Histopathological examinations revealed lower levels of vascular dilatation, edema, and inflammation in the SC group, while microvascular density (Anti-CD34 positivity) was significantly higher. Conclusion: Sildenafil citrate contributes to tissue repair by suppressing oxidative damage and improving angiogenesis and microcirculatory hemodynamics in the operated gastric tissue. These findings suggest that SC may serve as a potential therapeutic agent in maintaining tissue integrity and reducing the risk of leakage complications following bariatric surgery.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Eskişehir Osmangazi University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit.

Project Number

201911A225

Ethical Statement

The experimental protocol was approved by the Eskişehir Osmangazi University Local Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments on November 14, 2019, with registration number 746, and supported by the Eskişehir Osmangazi University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit. Experimental studies were conducted at the Eskişehir Osmangazi University Medical and Surgical Experimental Animal Application and Research Center, in accordance with the "National Health Institutes Guidelines on the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals".

Thanks

Eskişehir Osmangazi University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit.

References

  1. [1].Haruta, H., Kasama, K., Ohta, M., Sasaki, A., Yamamoto, H., Miyazaki, Y., … Togawa, T. (2017). Long-term outcomes of bariatric and metabolic surgery in Japan: results of a multi-institutional survey. Obesity Surgery, 27(3), 754–762. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2361-3
  2. [2]. Antipatis, V. J., & Gill, T. P. (2001). Obesity as a global problem. International Textbook of Obesity, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/0470846739.ch1
  3. [3]. Ng, M., Fleming, T., Robinson, M., Thomson, B., Graetz, N., Margono, C., … Abera, S. F. (2014). Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. The Lancet, 384(9945), 766–781. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60460-8
  4. [4]. Artham, S. M., Lavie, C. J., Milani, R. V, & Ventura, H. O. (2009). Obesity and hypertension, heart failure, and coronary heart disease—risk factor, paradox, and recommendations for weight loss. Ochsner Journal, 9(3), 124–132.
  5. [5]. Kushner, R. F., & Neff, L. M. (2010). Bariatric surgery: a key role for registered dietitians. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 110(4), 524–526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2009.12.030
  6. [6]. Cazzo, E., Gestic, M. A., Utrini, M. P., Chaim, F. D. M., Geloneze, B., Pareja, J. C., … Magro, D. O. (2016). GLP-2: a poorly understood mediator enrolled in various bariatric/metabolic surgery-related pathophysiologic mechanisms. ABCD. Arquivos Brasileiros de Cirurgia Digestiva (São Paulo), 29, 272–275. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-6720201600040014
  7. [7]. ElGeidie, A., ElHemaly, M., Hamdy, E., El Sorogy, M., AbdelGawad, M., & GadElHak, N. (2015). The effect of residual gastric antrum size on the outcome of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective randomized trial. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 11(5), 997–1003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2014.12.025
  8. [8]. Michalsky, D., Dvorak, P., Belacek, J., & Kasalicky, M. (2013). Radical resection of the pyloric antrum and its effect on gastric emptying after sleeve gastrectomy. Obesity Surgery, 23(4), 567–573. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-012-0850-6 [9]. Vincent, H. K., & Taylor, A. G. (2006). Biomarkers and potential mechanisms of obesity-induced oxidant stress in humans. International Journal of Obesity, 30(3), 400–418. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803177

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

May 31, 2026

Submission Date

December 23, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 14, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 19 Number: 2

APA
Karataş, İ. G., Badak, B., Salış, M., Burukoğlu Dönmez, D., Akyüz, F., Yener, B. N., & Kar, F. (2026). Sildenafil citrate improves microvascular density and healing in remnant gastric tissue after sleeve gastrectomy- An experimental study. Biological Diversity and Conservation, 19(2), 145-154. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1847315
AMA
1.Karataş İG, Badak B, Salış M, et al. Sildenafil citrate improves microvascular density and healing in remnant gastric tissue after sleeve gastrectomy- An experimental study. BioDiCon. 2026;19(2):145-154. doi:10.46309/biodicon.2026.1847315
Chicago
Karataş, İsmihan Gülden, Bartu Badak, Mustafa Salış, et al. 2026. “Sildenafil Citrate Improves Microvascular Density and Healing in Remnant Gastric Tissue After Sleeve Gastrectomy- An Experimental Study”. Biological Diversity and Conservation 19 (2): 145-54. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1847315.
EndNote
Karataş İG, Badak B, Salış M, Burukoğlu Dönmez D, Akyüz F, Yener BN, Kar F (May 1, 2026) Sildenafil citrate improves microvascular density and healing in remnant gastric tissue after sleeve gastrectomy- An experimental study. Biological Diversity and Conservation 19 2 145–154.
IEEE
[1]İ. G. Karataş et al., “Sildenafil citrate improves microvascular density and healing in remnant gastric tissue after sleeve gastrectomy- An experimental study”, BioDiCon, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 145–154, May 2026, doi: 10.46309/biodicon.2026.1847315.
ISNAD
Karataş, İsmihan Gülden - Badak, Bartu - Salış, Mustafa - Burukoğlu Dönmez, Dilek - Akyüz, Fahrettin - Yener, Burçin Nilay - Kar, Fatih. “Sildenafil Citrate Improves Microvascular Density and Healing in Remnant Gastric Tissue After Sleeve Gastrectomy- An Experimental Study”. Biological Diversity and Conservation 19/2 (May 1, 2026): 145-154. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1847315.
JAMA
1.Karataş İG, Badak B, Salış M, Burukoğlu Dönmez D, Akyüz F, Yener BN, Kar F. Sildenafil citrate improves microvascular density and healing in remnant gastric tissue after sleeve gastrectomy- An experimental study. BioDiCon. 2026;19:145–154.
MLA
Karataş, İsmihan Gülden, et al. “Sildenafil Citrate Improves Microvascular Density and Healing in Remnant Gastric Tissue After Sleeve Gastrectomy- An Experimental Study”. Biological Diversity and Conservation, vol. 19, no. 2, May 2026, pp. 145-54, doi:10.46309/biodicon.2026.1847315.
Vancouver
1.İsmihan Gülden Karataş, Bartu Badak, Mustafa Salış, Dilek Burukoğlu Dönmez, Fahrettin Akyüz, Burçin Nilay Yener, Fatih Kar. Sildenafil citrate improves microvascular density and healing in remnant gastric tissue after sleeve gastrectomy- An experimental study. BioDiCon. 2026 May 1;19(2):145-54. doi:10.46309/biodicon.2026.1847315

❖  Indexes
Additional Web of Science Indexes: Zoological Record, TR Dizin, Medical Reads (RRS), CrossRef;10.46309/biodicon.

❖  Libraries
Aberystwyth University; All libraries; Bath University; Birmingham University; Cardiff University; City University London; CONSER (Not UK Holdings); Edinburgh University; Essex University;Eskisehir Technical University Library, Exeter University; EZB Electronic Journals Library; Feng Chia University Library; GAZİ Gazi University Library; Glasgow University; HEC-National Digital Library; Hull University; Imperial College London; Kaohsiung Medical University Library; ANKOS; Anadolu University Library; Lancaster University; Libros PDF; Liverpool University; London Metropolitan University; London School of Economics and Political Science; Manchester University; National Cheng Kung University Library; National ILAN University Library; Nottingham University; Open University; Oxford University; Queen Mary, University of London; Robert Gordon University; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sheffield Hallam University; Sheffield University; Shih Hsin University Library; Smithsonian Institution Libraries; Southampton University; Stirling University; Strathclyde University; Sussex University; The National Agricultural Library (NAL); The Ohio Library and Information NetWork; Trinity College Dublin; University of Washington Libraries; Vaughan Memorial Library; York University. 

❖ Articles published in the journal “Biological Diversity and Conservation” are freely accessible. No article processing charge (APC) is charged.

❖ Additional Web of Science Indexes: Zoological Record
❖ This journal is a member of CrossRef;10.46309/biodicon. 
❖ For published articles and full details about the journal, please visit http://www.biodicon.com; https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/yayin/biodicon. 


❖  Correspondence Address:: Prof. Ersin YÜCEL, Sazova Mahallesi, Ziraat Caddesi, No.277 F Blok, 26005 Tepebaşı-Eskişehir/Türkiye 
E-mail: biodicon@gmail.com; 
❖ Web Address: http://www.biodicon.com;  https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/biodicon 
❖ Biological Diversity and Conservation 
❖ ISSN 1308-5301 Print; ISSN 1308-8084 Online 
Publication Start Date 2008 
© Copyright by Biological Diversity and Conservation/Biyolojik Çeşitlilik ve Koruma;  Available online at www.biodicon.com. All rights reserved.
. ❖ Publisher: ERSİN YÜCEL (https://www.ersinyucel.com.tr) 
❖ This Journal is published four times a year. It is printed in Eskişehir, Türkiye. 
❖ The authors are solely responsible for the articles published in this Journal . 
Editör-in Chief  : Prof.Dr. Ersin YÜCEL, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8274-7578