Dopaminergic influences on male sexual behavior of rhesus monkeys: effects of dopamine agonists. 1992

S M Pomerantz
Department of Physiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15261.

Previous research has demonstrated that the mixed D1/D2 dopamine receptor agonist, apomorphine, and the specific D2 dopamine receptor agonist, quinelorane, facilitated penile erections and masturbatory behavior of male rhesus monkeys when they were tested in the presence of a female monkey that they could see, hear, and smell but not physically contact. The present study was designed to further examine dopaminergic influences on male sexual behavior of rhesus monkeys by evaluating male copulatory behavior following administration of these dopaminergic agents, as well as a D1 agonist, CY 208-243. Apomorphine and quinelorane treatment produced dose-dependent effects on male sexual responding. Compared to vehicle-based performance, postejaculatory intervals were shortened following treatment with either 100-200 micrograms/kg apomorphine or 2.5-10 micrograms/kg quinelorane. Higher doses of apomorphine or quinelorane did not reliably influence the postejaculatory interval. Ejaculation latency, intromission frequency, and number of thrusts/intromission increased following administration of 200-400 micrograms/kg apomorphine and 25 micrograms/kg quinelorane, indicating that dopaminergic stimulation in this dose range raised the monkeys' ejaculatory threshold. No behavioral effects of the D1 agonist, CY 208-243, were observed in this testing situation. These experiments provide further evidence that dopaminergic mechanisms may play a role in the regulation of male sexual behavior of rhesus monkeys and, in particular, demonstrate that the direction of the effect depends on the dopamine receptor subtype and dosage of the dopamine agonist being administered.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007211 Indoles Benzopyrroles with the nitrogen at the number one carbon adjacent to the benzyl portion, in contrast to ISOINDOLES which have the nitrogen away from the six-membered ring.
D008253 Macaca mulatta A species of the genus MACACA inhabiting India, China, and other parts of Asia. The species is used extensively in biomedical research and adapts very well to living with humans. Chinese Rhesus Macaques,Macaca mulatta lasiota,Monkey, Rhesus,Rhesus Monkey,Rhesus Macaque,Chinese Rhesus Macaque,Macaca mulatta lasiotas,Macaque, Rhesus,Rhesus Macaque, Chinese,Rhesus Macaques,Rhesus Macaques, Chinese,Rhesus Monkeys
D008297 Male Males
D010617 Phenanthridines
D011804 Quinolines
D011954 Receptors, Dopamine Cell-surface proteins that bind dopamine with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells. Dopamine Receptors,Dopamine Receptor,Receptor, Dopamine
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001058 Apomorphine A derivative of morphine that is a dopamine D2 agonist. It is a powerful emetic and has been used for that effect in acute poisoning. It has also been used in the diagnosis and treatment of parkinsonism, but its adverse effects limit its use. Apokinon,Apomorphin-Teclapharm,Apomorphine Chloride,Apomorphine Hydrochloride,Apomorphine Hydrochloride Anhydrous,Apomorphine Hydrochloride, Anhydrous,Apomorphine Hydrochloride, Hemihydrate,Britaject,Apomorphin Teclapharm
D012726 Sexual Behavior, Animal Sexual activities of animals. Mating Behavior, Animal,Sex Behavior, Animal,Animal Mating Behavior,Animal Mating Behaviors,Animal Sex Behavior,Animal Sex Behaviors,Animal Sexual Behavior,Animal Sexual Behaviors,Mating Behaviors, Animal,Sex Behaviors, Animal,Sexual Behaviors, Animal
D015259 Dopamine Agents Any drugs that are used for their effects on dopamine receptors, on the life cycle of dopamine, or on the survival of dopaminergic neurons. Dopamine Drugs,Dopamine Effect,Dopamine Effects,Dopaminergic Agents,Dopaminergic Drugs,Dopaminergic Effect,Dopaminergic Effects,Agents, Dopamine,Agents, Dopaminergic,Drugs, Dopamine,Drugs, Dopaminergic,Effect, Dopamine,Effect, Dopaminergic,Effects, Dopamine,Effects, Dopaminergic

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