Bupropion treatment increases epididymal contractility and impairs sperm quality with no effects on the epididymal sperm transit time of male rats

• Published in: Journal of applied toxicology 2015-09, Vol.35 (9), p.1007-1016
• Main Authors: Cavariani, Marilia Martins, de Almeida Kiguti, Luiz Ricardo, de Lima Rosa, Josiane, de Araújo Leite, Gabriel Adan, Silva, Patrícia Villela e, Pupo, André Sampaio, De Grava Kempinas, Wilma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antidepressants; bupropion; Bupropion - toxicity; Dopamine; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors - toxicity; Ducts; epididymal contraction; Epididymis - drug effects; Epididymis - physiopathology; Female; Fertility; Fertility - drug effects; Human; Incidence; Inhibitors; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Male; Males; Muscle Contraction - drug effects; Norepinephrine; norepinephrine transporter; Organ Size - drug effects; Pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sexual Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Smoking cessation; Sperm; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility - drug effects; sperm quality; sperm transit time; Sperm Transport - drug effects; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Spermatozoa - pathology; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0260-437X; 1099-1263
• DOI: 10.1002/jat.3089

Bupropion is a dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) reuptake inhibitor used as smoking cessation and antidepressant drug with a lower incidence of male sexual dysfunction. We showed previously that sibutramine, a norepinephrine/serotonine reuptake inhibitor, reduced male rat fertility. As there are no studies evaluating the impact of bupropion treatment on spermatic parameters and male fertility, we evaluated the effects of bupropion treatment (15 and 30 mg kg−1, 30 days) on sexual behavior, spermatic parameters and fertility of male Wistar rats and on the epididymal duct in vitro contractility. Bupropion 15 mg kg−1 increased the serum luteinizing hormone level and the epididymal duct contractility, but the sperm quality was not affected. At 30 mg kg−1 bupropion impaired sperm quality increasing the incidence of non‐progressive sperm. The male sexual behavior and fertility were not modified at both bupropion doses. These results, in rats, suggest the importance of studies evaluating the effects of bupropion on the human male sperm quality. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Bupropion is used as smoking cessation and antidepressant drug. We evaluated the effects of bupropion on reproductive aspects of male rats and on the epididymal duct in vitro contractility. Bupropion 15 mg/kg increased the epididymal duct contractility; at 30 mg/kg bupropion impaired sperm quality increasing the incidence of non‐progressive sperm. Although male sexual behavior and fertility were not modified at both doses, these results suggest the importance of studies evaluating the effects of bupropion on the human male sperm quality.