Objective: Atomoxetine (ATX), a selective noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor, is a preferred
drug with sufficient efficacy and favorable safety profile for the treatment of attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder. Ejaculatory dysfunctions have been reported in the patients receiving ATX
as sexual side effects, of which underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. The present study
aimed to investigate the effect of ATX on mouse isolated vas deferens (VD) contractility as a
potential mechanism of ATX-induced ejaculatory dysfunction.
Material and Methods: Isolated organ bath studies were performed on prostatic parts of VD
obtained from adult male Balb/c mice. The effect of ATX (10-6, 10-5, 3x10-5 and 10-4 M) on KCl
(80 mM)-, phenylephrine (PhE, 3x10-4 M)-, adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP, 10-2 M)- and
electrical field stimulation (EFS; 100 V, 64 Hz)-induced contractions of VD strips were evaluated
in concentration dependent manner.
Results: ATX at 10-6 and 10-5 did not alter the contractile responses (p > 0.05), however, higher
concentrations of ATX (3x10-5 or 10-4 M) significantly inhibited the KCl-, PhE-, ATP- and EFSinduced
contractions of VD strips (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated for the first time that ATX decreased the contractile
responses of mouse isolated VD concentration-dependently. Our results suggest that ejaculatory
dysfunction might be related to the inhibitory effect of ATX on VD.
Keywords: atomoxetine, contraction, ejaculation, isolated organ bath, vas deferens
Abstract
Objective: Atomoxetine (ATX), a selective noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor, is a preferred
drug with sufficient efficacy and favorable safety profile for the treatment of attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder. Ejaculatory dysfunctions have been reported in the patients receiving ATX
as sexual side effects, of which underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. The present study
aimed to investigate the effect of ATX on mouse isolated vas deferens (VD) contractility as a
potential mechanism of ATX-induced ejaculatory dysfunction.
Material and Methods: Isolated organ bath studies were performed on prostatic parts of VD
obtained from adult male Balb/c mice. The effect of ATX (10-6, 10-5, 3x10-5 and 10-4 M) on KCl
(80 mM)-, phenylephrine (PhE, 3x10-4 M)-, adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP, 10-2 M)- and
electrical field stimulation (EFS; 100 V, 64 Hz)-induced contractions of VD strips were evaluated
in concentration dependent manner.
Results: ATX at 10-6 and 10-5 did not alter the contractile responses (p > 0.05), however, higher
concentrations of ATX (3x10-5 or 10-4 M) significantly inhibited the KCl-, PhE-, ATP- and EFSinduced
contractions of VD strips (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated for the first time that ATX decreased the contractile
responses of mouse isolated VD concentration-dependently. Our results suggest that ejaculatory
dysfunction might be related to the inhibitory effect of ATX on VD.
Keywords: atomoxetine, contraction, ejaculation, isolated organ bath, vas deferens