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This study evaluates the protective role of sildenafil on apoptosis and intestinal injury in a hypoxia–ischemia-induced NEC model using rat pups.

April 4, 2026Scientific ReportsOpen Access

Sildenafil pretreatment attenuates apoptosis and intestinal injury in a hypoxia–ischemia–induced NEC-like rat model

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Sildenafil treatment reduces intestinal injury and apoptosis in a necrotising enterocolitis rat model, suggesting therapeutic potential.

This study evaluates the protective role of sildenafil on apoptosis and intestinal injury in a hypoxia–ischemia-induced NEC model using rat pups.
75 Wistar rat pups were assigned to six groups: control, NEC, vehicle, and sildenafil-treated groups.
Sildenafil was administered intraperitoneally for four days before NEC induction.
NEC was induced by hypoxia and cold stress.
Intestinal tissues were analyzed for histopathological damage and expression of relevant proteins.
Sildenafil pretreatment significantly reduced intestinal injury scores in a dose-dependent manner.
The Sil_10 group had the lowest injury score (1.06 ± 0.4, p < 0.0001 vs. NEC).
Caspase-3 immunoreactivity correlated with histological injury (Spearman’s ρ = 0.795, p < 0.001).
Sildenafil increased Bcl-2 levels and decreased Bax expression, lowering the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio significantly.

Kurtuluş et al. (2026) studied this question.

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