The effect of sertraline on contractile responses of rat urinary bladder

7. SUMMARY Sertraline is a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor used in the treatment of depression. Side effects related to peripheral organs like urinary bladder can be observed. Peripheral effects of sertraline on rat urinary bladder was investigated. Bladder tissue samples were prepared by extracting the trigonal part of urinary bladder of rats (200-300 g) under ether anaesthesia. The strips were placed into the organ baths containing Tyrode solution and allowed to equilibrate for 60 min by a resting tension of 1 g. The responses to acetylcholine (109 -10"3 M), KCI (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 mM) and serotonin (10"1° -10"4 M) alone and after sertraline treatment (for 30 min) were recorded. The responses to electrical field stimulation were also recorded and were repeated after sertraline treatment (for 30 min). The responses were measured by force displacement transducer (FDT 10-A) and recorded through the MAY Polwin 97 software. For statistical analysis Mann-Whitney U test was used and a P value smaller than 0.05 was considered to be significant.. Sertraline inhibited the contractions caused by acetylcholine, serotonin and KCI. Sertraline treatment also inhibited the responses to electrical field stimulation. In conclusion sertraline showed inhibitory effects on urinary bladder contractions probably by blocking the calcium channels like in vas deferense.