APOMORPHINE-INDUCED PENILE ERECTIONS IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

Penile erections were regularly induced by intermittent subcutaneous i njections of apomorphine in five patients with Parkinson's disease (PD ) complicated by motor fluctuations. Four of the patients reported ere ctile dysfunction before beginning apomorphine and mio of these report a significant improvement in their sexual function resulting from apo morphine use. Animal studies suggest central D2-type dopamine receptor stimulation and oxytocin release from the paraven tricular nucleus of the hypothalamus mediate the effect, Erections reported with other do pamine agonists and levodopa are probably mediated by the same mechani sm. Apomorphine-induced erections in PD are probably more common than previously thought. The benefit of apomorphine on sexual function in s ome patients suggests a possible role in the treatment of impotence in PD.