Silodosin and tadalafil have synergistic inhibitory effects on nerve-mediated contractions of human and rat isolated prostates

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are associated with erectile dysfunction. Alpha-1-adrenoceptor antagonists are effective drugs for treating symptomatic BPH. Clinical data show improvements in LUTS by phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors. This study aimed to evaluate effects of silodosin, a highly selective α_1A-adrenoceptor antagonist, alone or in combination with the phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor tadalafil on contractions of isolated human and rat prostates. In organbath studies, effects of increasing concentrations of silodosin (1 nM-1 μM) and tadalafil (100 nM-100 μM) on contractions by electrical field stimulation or phenylephrine of human and rat prostate strip preparations were investigated. The combination silodosin and tadalafil reduced electrically-induced contractions of human prostate preparations better than single drugs alone. At any frequencies (1-32 Hz), inhibitory effects of combined therapy (P-values vs single drug) in human tissue were 26-42% (1 nM silodosin+100 nM tadalafil; P1A-adrenoceptor antagonist and a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor for symptomatic BPH and suggests that the drug combination requires endogenous nerve-activity for optimal effect.