Sertraline inhibits the contractile responses to noradrenaline, KCl and electrical field stimulation of rat isolated vas deferens

1 The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sertraline, a sele ctive serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, on contractile responses to noradrenal ine (NA), KCl, serotonin (5-HT) and electrical field stimulation of rat iso lated vas deferens. 2 Pre-treatment with 10(-4) M sertraline showed inhibitory effects on respo nses to NA, KCI, 5-HT and electrical field stimulation, while pre-treatment with 10(-6) and 10(-5) M sertraline caused potentiation of responses to NA (10(-7) and 10(-6) M). 3 A voltage-dependent calcium channel activator, Bay K 8644, restored the i nhibited responses when sertraline was washed out of the organ bath, althou gh restoration could not be seen when sertraline was not removed. 4 The inhibition of the contractile responses by sertraline pre-treatment m ay be via a mechanism through calcium channels which is additional to the s elective serotonin re-uptake inhibitory effect of sertraline.