Mechanism of Shugan Yidan fan, a Chinese herbal formula, in rat model of premature ejaculation

BACKGROUND: Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most common forms of sexual dysfunction in men, and multimodal therapeutic regimens should be considered to treat the condition. We developed a Chinese medicine herbal medicine, Shugan Yidan fang that had a significant clinical effect on PE patients, extending the time between penetration and ejaculation. However, the mechanism of this formula remains unclear. There is evidence that PE is associated with peripheral neuropathology, and the actions of dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of Shugan Yidan fang’s effect on PE through the relationship between sexual behavioristics and the level of neurotransmitters and dopamine receptors (DARs). RESULTS: We showed that the male PE groups had a significant PE phenotype compared to healthy rats. Treatment with Shugan Yidan fang improved the behavioristics of the PE rats, and reduced the expression of DAR mRNA and protein while improving dopamine transporter levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provided evidence for the beneficial effect of Shugan Yidan fang in PE therapy, and proposed a preliminary potential mechanism for the clinical application of the formula. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12610-023-00200-3.