COMPARISON OF PERIPHERAL INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF CLOMIPRAMINE WITH SELECTIVE SEROTONIN RE-UPTAKE INHIBITORS ON CONTRACTION OF VAS DEFERENS: IN VITRO AND IN VIVO STUDIES

Abstract

Purpose: We compared the peripheral inhibitory effects of the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine with those of various selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors on the contractile response of the vas deferens.Materials and Methods: The contractile responses of 17 circular smooth muscle strips of human vas deferens to 10−4 M. norepinephrine were observed in the absence and presence of clomipramine, and the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors fluoxetine, sertraline and paroxetine. The intraluminal pressure response of rat vas deferens to electrical stimulation of the hypogastric nerve was measured in 5 rats in the central plus peripheral effect group before and after the intravenous injection of 4.2 mg./kg. clomipramine or 8.3 mg./kg. sertraline. The pressure response to each agent was also observed after the transection of all proximal sympathetic input to the hypogastric nerve in 5 animals in the peripheral effect group.Results: Clomipramine was about 100-fold more potent than sertraline, fluoxetin...