Pharmacological Analysis of Male Rat Sexual Behavior

i1(4) 365-389, 1987--Pharmacological inf uences on male rat sexual behavior are reviewed m an attempt o tdentify neurotransmitters and their respective receptor types that regulate various factors comprising the behavmral pattern. Evidence is presented that " (1) serotonerg~c influence is generally inhibitory to sexual behavtor, although two receptor subtypes may lower ejaculatmn threshold, (2) dopammerg~c agomsts faohtate several aspects of copulatory behavmr and ea c optda gemtal responses; (3) noradrenerglc activity appears to increase sexual arousal; (4) cholinerglc agomsts facditate ejaculatton, or m some cases, delay or prevent ruination of copulation, (5) GABA agomsts mh~b~t sexual responses both ill and ex coptda, (6) opmte agonists appear to inhibit copulatmn and pemle reflexes, although antagomsts have mixed effects, (7) ACTH and MSH peptides promote copulatory behavmr and gemtal responses, (8) oxytocm facdltates er ~ opula pemle responses, but may contribute to postejaculatory efractoriness, and (9) long-term exposure to prolactm mh~b~ts sexual behavmr and pende responses. Although some progress has been made m tdentffymg neurotransm~tter-receptor ffects on behavmral components, copulatory behavtor is complex and no drug has been found to affect only a smgle component Furthermore, drug speclfioty Is only relative Male sexual behawor Pharmacology Serotonln Dopamme Norepmephnne Acetylchohne GABA Optates ACTH-MSH Oxytocm Prolactln FOR years the study of sexual behavior focussed primanl