A. Fernandezguasti et G. Rodriguezmanzo, 8-OH-DPAT AND MALE-RAT SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR - PARTIAL BLOCKADE BY NORADRENERGIC LESION AND SEXUAL EXHAUSTION, Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior, 56(1), 1997, pp. 111-116
As previously shown, the 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT is a potent facilita
tor of male rat copulatory behavior in both sexually experienced and s
exually exhausted male rats. The basis of the facilitation is still no
t clear. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine
whether 8-OH-DPAT-induced sexual-behavior facilitation could be conter
acted by lesioning the NA system with the noradrenergic neurotoxin DSP
4 In NA-lesioned, sexually experienced, non-exhausted rats, the facili
tatory effects of 8-OH-DPAT on the number of mounts and the postejacul
atory interval were reduced, the effect on the intromission latency di
sappeared, while the percentage of copulating rats was not significant
ly altered. In sexually exhausted rats bearing a lesion of the NA syst
em, the facilitatory effects of 8-OH-DPAT on the percentage of copulat
ing rats was blocked. Data are discussed on the basis of the interacti
ons between the noradrenergic and serotonergic systems in the mediatio
n of the facilitatory effect of 8-OH-DPAT in sexually exhausted and no
n-exhausted rats