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Metachlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) induced intracavernous pressure responses in anaesthetized rats

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 14, pages 287–294 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Here we have recorded the effects of metachlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) on intracavernous pressure (ICP) in anesthetized rats pretreated with various pharmacological agents in an attempt to determine the mechanism and relevance of the m-CPP induced ICP response to other models of erection. m-CPP elicited consistent and significantly greater increases in ICP (71.5±6.6 mmHg) compared with the mixed 5-HT2a/2c agonists trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (3.4±1.3 mmHg) and quipazine (10.9±1.8 mmHg). Blockade of 5-HT2a receptors with ketanserin failed to unmask any stimulatory effect of quipazine (7.2±1.0 mmHg). m-CPP induced ICP responses (71±7.0 mmHg) were unaffected in the presence of mianserin (63±5 mmHg) and ketanserin (51±12 mmHg). Spiperone significantly reduced the m-CPP induced increase in ICP (8.0±1.0 mmHg). Naloxone, yohimbine and 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OHDPAT) failed to elicit increases in ICP on their own. All three drugs significantly reduced the latency to the first m-CPP induced ICP response compared to saline. Yohimbine increased the duration of m-CPP induced ICP responses whereas 8-OHDPAT increased the mean number of m-CPP induced ICP responses compared to saline. The effects of m-CPP on ICP in anesthetized rats may not be mediated by 5-HT2c receptors and appears to be similar to erection in copula, but not erection elicited by other drugs or penile sheath retraction.

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Acknowledgements

These studies were supported through a National University of Singapore post-graduate scholarship awarded to ES Hayes. LC Lau and B Srilatha are thanked for technical assistance and review of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the National University of Singapore, Singapore

    E S Hayes & P G Adaikan

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  1. E S Hayes
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  2. P G Adaikan
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Correspondence to E S Hayes.

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Hayes, E., Adaikan, P. Metachlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) induced intracavernous pressure responses in anaesthetized rats. Int J Impot Res 14, 287–294 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3900888

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