Cholinergic mechanisms in cocaine-induced genital reflexes in paradoxical sleep-deprived male rats. 2004

M L Andersen, and L A Papale, and S Tufik
Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP/EPM), Rua Napoleão de Barros, 925, Villa Clementino, 4024-002, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. mandersen@sti.com.br

In view of the fact that paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) modifies cocaine-induced genital reflexes (penile erection [PE] and ejaculation [EJ]), the aim of this study was to address the interaction of cholinergic agents with the action of cocaine on the genital reflexes of PSD male rats. After a 4-day period of PSD, each group was administered with cholinergic drugs 1 h prior to cocaine and was placed in observation cages. The administration of nicotine (0.12, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg sc) reduced the frequency and number of animals displaying PE and increased PE latency. Pretreatment with mecamylamine (1.25, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg sc) also significantly reduced PE frequency for all doses used. The percentage of rats showing EJ was significantly reduced in the group pretreated with 1 mg/kg of nicotine compared with the saline group. The administration of pilocarpine (1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg sc) and atropine (1.25, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg sc) led to a reduction in the frequency of PE displayed by the rats. These data show that agonist and antagonist cholinergic drugs inhibit genital reflexes in PSD male rats injected with cocaine. The data also suggest that the stimulating action of cocaine in potentiating the sexual effects in PSD rats does not override the effects of the cholinergic mechanisms of sexual behavior.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010410 Penile Erection The state of the PENIS when the erectile tissue becomes filled or swollen (tumid) with BLOOD and causes the penis to become rigid and elevated. It is a complex process involving CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS; HORMONES; SMOOTH MUSCLES; and vascular functions. Tumescence, Penile,Nocturnal Penile Tumescence,Penile Tumescence,Erection, Penile,Penile Tumescence, Nocturnal,Tumescence, Nocturnal Penile
D011950 Receptors, Cholinergic Cell surface proteins that bind acetylcholine with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells. Cholinergic receptors are divided into two major classes, muscarinic and nicotinic, based originally on their affinity for nicotine and muscarine. Each group is further subdivided based on pharmacology, location, mode of action, and/or molecular biology. ACh Receptor,Acetylcholine Receptor,Acetylcholine Receptors,Cholinergic Receptor,Cholinergic Receptors,Cholinoceptive Sites,Cholinoceptor,Cholinoceptors,Receptors, Acetylcholine,ACh Receptors,Receptors, ACh,Receptor, ACh,Receptor, Acetylcholine,Receptor, Cholinergic,Sites, Cholinoceptive
D003042 Cocaine An alkaloid ester extracted from the leaves of plants including coca. It is a local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor and is clinically used for that purpose, particularly in the eye, ear, nose, and throat. It also has powerful central nervous system effects similar to the amphetamines and is a drug of abuse. Cocaine, like amphetamines, acts by multiple mechanisms on brain catecholaminergic neurons; the mechanism of its reinforcing effects is thought to involve inhibition of dopamine uptake. Cocaine HCl,Cocaine Hydrochloride,HCl, Cocaine,Hydrochloride, Cocaine
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
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
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
D012892 Sleep Deprivation The state of being deprived of sleep under experimental conditions, due to life events, or from a wide variety of pathophysiologic causes such as medication effect, chronic illness, psychiatric illness, or sleep disorder. Inadequate Sleep,Insufficient Sleep,Insufficient Sleep Syndrome,REM Sleep Deprivation,Sleep Debt,Sleep Fragmentation,Sleep Insufficiency,Deprivation, REM Sleep,Deprivation, Sleep,Fragmentation, Sleep,Insufficiencies, Sleep,Insufficiency, Sleep,Insufficient Sleep Syndromes,Sleep Deprivation, REM,Sleep Insufficiencies,Sleep, Inadequate,Sleep, Insufficient,Syndrome, Insufficient Sleep
D012895 Sleep, REM A stage of sleep characterized by rapid movements of the eye and low voltage fast pattern EEG. It is usually associated with dreaming. Fast-Wave Sleep,Paradoxical Sleep,Rapid Eye Movements,Rhombencephalic Sleep,Sleep, Fast-Wave,REM Sleep,Eye Movement, Rapid,Eye Movements, Rapid,Fast Wave Sleep,Movement, Rapid Eye,Movements, Rapid Eye,Rapid Eye Movement,Sleep, Fast Wave,Sleep, Paradoxical,Sleep, Rhombencephalic
D017208 Rats, Wistar A strain of albino rat developed at the Wistar Institute that has spread widely at other institutions. This has markedly diluted the original strain. Wistar Rat,Rat, Wistar,Wistar Rats

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