Laboratory Study Suggests Tadalafil May Support Muscle Cell Regeneration
Tadalafil, marketed under the brand name Cialis, is a prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction, urinary symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
What Did the Researchers Find?
Published in the journal Molecular Biology Reports, the study investigated the effects of long-term tadalafil exposure on muscle cell growth and regeneration.
Researchers conducted experiments using mouse-derived muscle cells, exposing them to a specific concentration of tadalafil for seven days and comparing the results with untreated cells.
The findings showed that tadalafil-treated cells exhibited:
- Increased numbers of viable cells and fewer dead cells.
- Faster migration toward damaged areas in laboratory wound-healing models.
- Prolonged retention of immature muscle cell characteristics, with delayed fusion into mature muscle fibers.
- Changes in the levels of proteins involved in regulating muscle growth and cell differentiation.
Researchers also observed increased secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a signaling protein produced by muscle tissue that contributes to the regulation of several muscle functions.
At the same time, levels of myostatin and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), two factors involved in regulating muscle growth and cell development, decreased.
Does This Mean Tadalafil Can Build Muscle?
The findings do not establish that tadalafil increases muscle mass, improves athletic performance or accelerates injury recovery in humans.
The experiments were conducted on isolated cells, and further research in living organisms, followed by clinical trials, is needed to determine whether these effects translate into meaningful therapeutic benefits.
Consequently, the results do not provide sufficient evidence to support tadalafil as a muscle-building drug or justify its use for this purpose without clinical evidence confirming its effectiveness and safety.
