Dose and Duration Dependent Effect of Fluoxetine on Dorsolateral Lobe of Prostate of Albino Rats-An Experimental Study

Introduction: Fluoxetine is a prototype drug of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) group of antidepressants. SSRIs help prostatic disease patients by improving quality of life in terms of decreased requirement of anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medication, decreasing the pain in the genital area, pain, and difficulty during urination, and improving urinary flow.

Aim: To investigate histological changes in the prostate (dorsolateral lobe) produced by different doses (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg/day) of fluoxetine given for different duration (Phases) in adult male albino rats.

Materials and Methods: An experimental study was done in the Anatomy Department, Himalayan Institute Medical Sciences (HIMS), Swami Rama Himalayan University, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. The duration of the study was twelve months from May 2009-April 2010. Present study was done on 36 adult male albino rats divided into Control (Group 1) and Experimental (Group 2, 3 and 4). Rats received 10 mg/kg/day, 20 mg/kg/day, and 40 mg/kg/day of fluoxetine intraperitoneally (I/P) for phases of 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks. Prostate (dorsolateral lobe) tissue was collected, processed, and examined in a light microscope after Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining. Morphometric and statistical analysis (mean, standard deviation and student’s t-test) was done.

Results: Group 2 rats received fluoxetine for 12 weeks, Group 3 rats received fluoxetine for 4 weeks and 12 weeks, and Group 4 rats received fluoxetine for 7-10 days showed histological changes in the dorsolateral lobe of the prostate gland and stroma in the form of Smooth Muscle (SM) hypertrophy, epithelial cell changes (become cuboidal to flatten), epithelial cell degeneration, decreased diameter of the prostate acinus, and decrease in epithelial infoldings.

Conclusion: Fluoxetine (SSRI) alters the histology (both glandular acini as well as stroma) of the dorsolateral lobe of the prostate if used in low doses for a long duration, moderate doses for a few weeks and also for a long duration, and high dose for one week. This changed histology might be helpful in relieving the symptoms, pain, and discomfort felt by prostatic disease patients.