Title : Asprosin ameliorates paroxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in the male rats
Abstract:
Sexual dysfunction is a common clinical condition due to different causes including the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIe). Paroxetine, which is one of the SSRIs, is known to cause sexual dysfunction including erectile dysfunction in men. Asprosin, released from white adipose tissue cells, is a glucogenic adipokine that modulates hepatic glucose release by causing rapid release of glucose into the circulation during fasting. It is known that asprosin crosses the blood-brain barrier and activates orexigenic AgRP and is also involved in the mobilization of sperm for fertilization through the olfactory receptor OLFR734. The fact that reproductive organs such as testes, like the brain, need free glucose at all times suggests that asprosin may also have an important role in reproductive functions. Based on this idea, we aimed to reveal the effects of asprosin in rats with paroxetine-induced sexual dysfunction. In the present study, 60 male Sprague Dawley rats were used as control, sham control, paroxetine, asprosin and paroxetine+asprosin groups (n=12). Paroxetine was administered via oral gavage, while asprosin infusion was administered via intracerebroventricular cannula. The sexual behavioral experiments were performed in the male rats.
As a result of our study, it was observed that asprosin infusion promoted erection in behavioral experiments and increased sexual motivation by facilitating ejaculation. In histologic examinations, paroxetine group rats showed edema and vascular congestion in the interstitial area and separation of the basement membranes of the seminiferous tubules, while paroxetine+asprosin group rats showed significant improvements (p<0.05). While there was no difference in epididymis weight between the groups, paroxetine treatment decreased sperm concentration compared to the control group (p<0.05) and asprosin increased sperm concentration and total motility compared to the control and paroxetine groups (p<0.01). In our investigations on serum hormone levels, asprosine decreased prolactin level (p<0.05) and increased oxytocin level (p<0.01).
These results demonstrate that asprosin may be a therapeutic modality or improving SSRI-associated sexual dysfunction in men through increased expression of sexual motivation and copulatory behaviors.
