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Effects of chronic selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on 8-OH-DPAT-induced facilitation of ejaculation in rats: comparison of fluvoxamine and paroxetine

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Abstract

Rationale

Chronic treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can delay ejaculation in humans, but the extent of this effect differs between SSRIs. The involvement of 5-HT1A receptors is likely, since 5-HT1A receptor agonists accelerate ejaculation and chronic SSRI treatment is thought to desensitize 5-HT1A receptors.

Objectives

This study was conducted to examine the effects of chronic pretreatment with the SSRIs fluvoxamine and paroxetine on the facilitation of ejaculation induced by the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT.

Methods

Sexually experienced Wistar rats with normal ejaculatory behavior were treated for 22 days with vehicle, fluvoxamine (30 mg/kg/day), or paroxetine (10 or 20 mg/kg/day, p.o.). On day 22, rats received a challenge with saline or 8-OH-DPAT (0.4 mg/kg, s.c.). Sexual behavior was tested on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 of the SSRI-treatment.

Results

Treatment with both doses of paroxetine, but not fluvoxamine, delayed ejaculation. 8-OH-DPAT strongly accelerated ejaculation under vehicle conditions. Pretreatment with paroxetine reduced the effects of 8-OH-DPAT on ejaculation in a dose-dependent manner and more strongly than fluvoxamine.

Conclusions

SSRIs affect 5-HT1A receptors involved in ejaculation. The degree to which this occurs, with paroxetine exerting a stronger effect than fluvoxamine, might determine the extent of SSRI-induced delayed ejaculation.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by an educational grant from Solvay Pharmaceuticals (Hannover, Germany). We thank Jos Dederen for his excellent technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Trynke R. de Jong, Tommy Pattij & Jan G. Veening

  2. Department of Psychoneuropharmacology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Trynke R. de Jong & Alexander R. Cools

  3. Department of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht Institute of Pharmacological Sciences and Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Trynke R. de Jong, Tommy Pattij, Jan G. Veening, Marcel D. Waldinger & Berend Olivier

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Leyenburg Hospital, Den Haag, The Netherlands

    Marcel D. Waldinger

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, CT, USA

    Berend Olivier

  6. Department of Anatomy, Intern Mail 230, Geert Grooteplein 21, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Trynke R. de Jong

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  1. Trynke R. de Jong
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Correspondence to Trynke R. de Jong.

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de Jong, T.R., Pattij, T., Veening, J.G. et al. Effects of chronic selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on 8-OH-DPAT-induced facilitation of ejaculation in rats: comparison of fluvoxamine and paroxetine. Psychopharmacology 179, 509–515 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-2186-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-2186-6

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