Fluvoxamine (=Fluvox®), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) was tested for its ability to induce preputium eversion in Biomphalaria straminea in order to clarify the physiological mechanism of eversion. Biomphalaria straminea is a snail species that was accidentally introduced to Asia in recent years। Methioheptin and serotonin were added as controls. Fluvoxamine was found to have an MED of 10-50μM (p<0.0001). The receptor antagonist methiothepin was found to have an MED of 1 -10 μM (p <0.0001). Serotonin did not induce eversion and did not block methiothepin-induced eversion. This suggests that fluvoxamine is not acting as SSRI, but possibly as a receptor ligand.
Reference
Yapp, J.: Distribution of the Schistosome Vector Snail Biompholaria straminea: J. Mollus. Stud. 1990; 56: 47-55
