EFFECT OF YOHIMBINE ON CLOMIPRAMINE-INDUCED SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN MALE RATS

Abstract

Object: The present investigation has been carried out to find out the effect of yohimbine on clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats.Methods: The male rats were treated with clomipramine and yohimbine simultaneously for 60 days. During the treatment, all the male rats werechallenged with the female rats which are in estrous phase and their sexual behavior was observed under dim red light. Half of the animals in each group and remaining on 60 day were sacrificed, blood was collected and serum separated. Testis was collected and preserved in 10% formalin forsubsequent histopathological examination. thResults: The study reveals that yohimbine failed to antagonize the clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats in all aspects, except thepartial improvement in the sexual behavior.Conclusion: Yohimbine a well-known aphrodisiac failed to antagonize the clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats. The decrease intestosterone levels, a decrease in spermatozoa count were continued even in the presence of yohimbine except improvement in the sexual behaviorparameters. Hence, yohimbine could not be a safe antidote against clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats.Keywords: Yohimbine, Clomipramine, Testosterone, Male rat sexual competence, Testicular damage.