Psychopharmacology of male rat sexual behavior: modeling human sexual dysfunctions?

Most of our current understanding of the neurobiology, neuroanatomy and psychopharmacology of sexual behavior and ejaculatory function has been derived from preclinical studies in the rat. When a large population of male rats is tested on sexual activity during a number of successive tests, over tim...

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Published inInternational journal of impotence research Vol. 18; no. S1; pp. S14 - S23
Main Authors Olivier, B, Chan, J S W, Pattij, T, de Jong, T R, Oosting, R S, Veening, J G, Waldinger, M D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Nature Publishing Group 01.09.2006
Subjects
Animals
Antidepressants
Care and treatment
Disease Models, Animal
Dosage and administration
Ejaculation
Ejaculation - drug effects
Humans
Male
Neurobiology
Neurosciences
Physiological aspects
Psychopharmacology
Rats
Receptors, Serotonin - metabolism
Serotonin - metabolism
Sexual behavior
Sexual Behavior, Animal - drug effects
Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology
Sexual disorders
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - drug therapy
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - metabolism
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - physiopathology
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - psychology
Netherlands
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Summary:Most of our current understanding of the neurobiology, neuroanatomy and psychopharmacology of sexual behavior and ejaculatory function has been derived from preclinical studies in the rat. When a large population of male rats is tested on sexual activity during a number of successive tests, over time individual rats display a very stable sexual behavior that is either slow, normal or fast as characterized by the number of ejaculations performed. These sexual endophenotypes are postulated as rat counterparts of premature (fast rats) or retarded ejaculation (slow rats). Psychopharmacology in these endophenotypes helps to delineate the underlying mechanisms and pathology. This is illustrated by the effects of serotonergic antidepressants and serotonergic compounds on sexual and ejaculatory behavior of rats. These preclinical studies and models contribute to a better understanding of the neurobiology of ejaculation and boost the development of novel drug targets to treat ejaculatory disorders such as premature and retarded ejaculation.
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ISSN:0955-9930
1476-5489
DOI:10.1038/sj.ijir.3901330