Investigation of the effects of oral dapoxetine on kidney function and histopathologic changes in male rats; an animal study and future perspectives

Introduction: Dapoxetine is a novel therapeutic agent employed in treating specific diseases. However, its potential impact on renal excretion processes has yet to be thoroughly investigated, necessitating further exploration in this study. Objectives: This research aimed to assess the effects of dapoxetine on renal function and explore any potential disturbances in kidney excretion processes. Materials and Methods: In this study, 32 male Albino rats weighing between 200-250 g were utilized. The rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group one served as the control and received a normal diet, while groups two to four were administered dapoxetine through gavage at doses of 1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, and 4 mg/kg, respectively. The study evaluated blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine levels and examined renal pathological changes in the rats. Results: The results demonstrated a significant increase in average BUN levels in group four compared to other groups (P<0.001). For creatinine, group three displayed higher levels compared to other groups. However, the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Importantly, no indications of apoptosis, necrosis, edema, hydropic degeneration, or glomerular changes were observed in any of the renal cells from the rat groups. Conclusion: Dapoxetine administration led to changes in BUN and creatinine levels; however, it did not adversely affect the renal cells’ pathological outcomes. These results suggest that dapoxetine could be considered for use in the future treatment of certain diseases, considering its minimal impact on renal function. Further investigations and clinical trials are warranted to corroborate these findings and inform medical decision-making.