ADRENALECTOMY DOES NOT PREVENT THE ABILITY OF 8-OH-DPAT TO DECREASE THE EJACULATORY THRESHOLD IN MALE-RATS

The present experiments demonstrate that 8-OH-DPAT (0.25 mg/kg SC, - 1 5 min) produced a decrease in the ejaculatory threshold to the same ex tent in adrenalectomized male rats as in sham operated controls. Both groups of animals displayed a marked and statistically significant dec rease in number of mounts and penile intromissions preceding ejaculati on and in the ejaculation latency, as a result of treatment with 8-OH- DPAT. Adrenalectomy per se did not affect any aspect of the male rat's sexual behavior (latency to first intromission, number of mounts or p enile intromissions, ejaculation latency or the postejaculatory interv al). The surgical removal of the adrenals was verified by measurements of plasma corticosterone levels. It is concluded that well documented effects of 8-OH-DPAT on adrenal secretions do not contribute to its a bility to decrease the ejaculatory threshold in male rats.