Effects of the rotigotine and venlafaxine on sexual dysfunction and depression in rats

Introduction: Rationale Venlafaxine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), differing from the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in that it inhibits the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine. Reportedly, the rates of sexual dysfunction with venlafaxine are lower or similar to those of the SSRIs. Dopamine plays a role in sexual behavior and is related to ejaculation. Objectives: To assess changes in the potential effects of dopamine receptor agonist rotigotine on venlafaxine -induced sexual dysfunction and depression in rats. Methods: The depressive-like rats models induced by olfactory bulbectomy (OB) were intragastrically administered with venlafaxine (40 mg/kg) and co-administered with rotigotine or rotigotine-loaded microspheres (RoMS) at dose of 20 mg/kg. The sex function and anti-depressive effects were observed by copulatory behavior test (CBT) and open field test (OFT) respectively. Result: The olfactory bulbectomy induced sexual dysfunction which significantly deteriorated by venlafaxine administration. Rotigotine could not attenuate the venlafaxine-induced sexual dysfunction, but RoMS could do it partly. The venlafaxine showed anti-depressive efficacy of OB, but the RoMS could not do better. Conclusion: RoMS partly reverses the venlafaxine-induced sexual dysfunction. It may be better that patients with depression are co-administered with venlafaxine and RoMS