STIMULATORY EFFECTS OF QUINELORANE ON YAWNING AND PENILE ERECTION IN THE RAT

Quineforane, a highly selective D-2 dopamine agonist, was assessed for its ability to induce the penile erection/stretch-yawn syndrome. Quin elorane (0.1-100 mu g/kg s.c.) or saline vehicle was administered to a dult male Sprague-Dawley rats just prior to a 30 min. observation peri od. Significant dose-related increases in erections were observed in t he drug treated animals at 3-100 mu g/kg. Yawning was also increased a t 3-100 mu g/kg, with highest levels occurring at 10 mu g/kg. Defecati on was stimulated between 10 and 100 mu g/kg. The stimulatory effects of 30 mu g/kg of quinelorane on erection, yawning and defecation were blocked by haloperidol (0.1-0.3 mg/kg) but not by domperidone (0.1-1.0 mg/kg). No significant effects of quinelorane on seminal emission wer e observed. These findings indicate that in addition to its stimulator y effects on sexual activity, quinelorane also acts on D-2 receptors i n the central nervous system to stimulate erection in the penile erect ion/stretch-yawn model.