The effect of chronic antipsychotic drug administration on nitric oxide synthase activity and gene expression in rat penile tissues

Zhang, Xiang Rong; Zhang, Zhi Jun; Jenkins, Trisha A.; Cheng, Wei Rong; Reynolds, Gavin P.

doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2009.10.002

« Previous Next »European Neuropsychopharmacology
Volume 20, Issue 4 , Pages 211-217, April 2010

The effect of chronic antipsychotic drug administration on nitric oxide synthase activity and gene expression in rat penile tissues

Xiang Rong Zhang
- Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, School of Clinical Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen's University Belfast, UK
Zhi Jun Zhang
- Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, School of Clinical Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Corresponding author. The Department of Neurology, affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, No.87 DingJiaQiao Road, Nanjing, 210009, PR China. Tel.: +86 25 83272023; fax: +86 25 83285132.
Trisha A. Jenkins
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen's University Belfast, UK
Wei Rong Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing, China
Gavin P. Reynolds
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen's University Belfast, UK

Received 14 June 2009; received in revised form 2 September 2009; accepted 4 October 2009. published online 16 November 2009.

Abstract

Antipsychotic drug treatment may be associated with common and problematic sexual dysfunction, especially impotence, which can diminish quality of life and lead to treatment noncompliance. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is an important cellular modulator of erectile function. We have therefore investigated the effect of antipsychotic drug on activity and gene expression of NOS in rat penile tissues. The activity of constitutive NOS was significantly suppressed below control by a 21days administration of 1mg/kg haloperidol, which also significantly decreased expression of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neural NOS mRNA. Risperidone at 0.5mg/kg also reduced eNOS mRNA expression. Haloperidol or risperidone did not change gene expression and activity of inducible NOS (iNOS). Quetiapine significantly increased activity and mRNA expression of iNOS with 20 and 40mg/kg doses. These preliminary results have important implications for enhancing our understanding of mechanisms by which antipsychotic drugs induce sexual dysfunction.