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Differential effects of serotonin reuptake inhibitors on erectile responses, NO‐production, and neuronal NO synthase expression in rat corpus cavernosum tissue
Author(s) -
Angulo Javier,
Peiró Concepción,
SanchezFerrer Carlos F,
Gabancho Sonia,
Cuevas Pedro,
Gupta Sandeep,
Tejada Iñigo Sáenz de
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704351
Subject(s) - serotonin , reuptake , erectile dysfunction , erectile tissue , endocrinology , medicine , neuroscience , biology , receptor
Increased incidence of impotence is associated with some selective serotonin‐reuptake‐inhibitors (SSRIs), but the pathophysiological mechanism is unknown. Paroxetine and citalopram are extensively used SSRIs, but only paroxetine has been shown to inhibit nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. NO is a key mediator of penile erection. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of paroxetine and citalopram on erectile function and NO production, in a rat model. Application of cavernosal nerve electrical stimulation produced frequency‐related intracavernosal pressure (ICP) increases, which were inhibited by the NOS inhibitor, N G ‐nitro‐ L ‐arginine (0.3 mg kg −1 ). Acute or chronic (2 weeks) paroxetine‐treatment (10 mg kg −1 ) reduced ICP‐responses, while citalopram did not. Paroxetine, but not citalopram, significantly reduced nitrite+nitrate plasma levels by 61.4% and inhibited penile neuronal NOS (nNOS) protein expression by 31.2% after chronic treatment. The results show that paroxetine inhibits erectile responses in rats. We propose that this effect is due to reduced NO production and nNOS expression. British Journal of Pharmacology (2001) 134 , 1190–1194; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704351