EFFECT OF SR 59026A, A NEW 5-HT1A RECEPTOR AGONIST, ON SEXUAL-ACTIVITY IN MALE-RATS

The effect of SR 59026A, a new selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist, was evaluated on sexual behaviour of male rats in different experimental c onditions. SR 59026A (1-10 mg/kg p.o.) stimulated the copulatory behav iour of sexually experienced rats, as evidenced by a decrease in the n umber of pre-ejaculatory mounts and intromissions and a shortening of the ejaculation latency. SR 59026A also facilitated the sexual behavio ur of naive male rats characterized by a low level of sexual performan ce: over the same dose range, the percentage of naive males that copul ated was significantly increased and the ejaculation latency reduced. In experiments designed to evaluate the onset of sexual satiation, SR 59026A (1 and 3 mg/kg) increased significantly the number of ejaculati ons and delayed the time of sexual satiation. Finally, In agreement wi th studies on other 5-HT1A receptor agonists, SR 59026A did not modify the occurrence of spontaneous erections in isolated male rats. Theref ore, the present study shows that SR 59026A improves the sexual perfor mance of male rats in a number of different experimental models, and t he compound may prove to be of interest for the treatment of certain s tates of human male sexual dysfunction.