Modification of sexual behavior of Long–Evans male rats by drugs acting on the 5-HT1A receptor

Mechanisms of Penile Erection and Basis for Pharmacological Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

“…In accordance with the selective use of 5-HT receptor agonists and antagonists, components of male copulatory behavior were found to be displayed variably. For example, 5-HT 1A receptor activation may have contrasting effects on sexual function, depending on the dose of administration and location of the receptor in the brain (Ahlenius and Larsson, 1997;Rehman et al, 1999). Bancila et al (1999), using immunohistochemistry, suggested on the basis of their findings that the supraspinal serotonergic control of erection at the lumbosacral level seemed to be strongly associated with activation of 5-HT 2C receptors.…”

Pathophysiologic basis of erectile dysfunction. What can we learn from animal models?

“…17 The animal model can be utilized for studies of the effect of combinations of drugs and other centrally acting agents as well prior to human trials. 18,19 It is interesting that although smoking is such a prevalent cause of disease throughout the world, there have been only a few reports of studies on the effect of smoking on penile physiology. One report, in the rat, had equivocal results in that there was some increase in the mean arterial pressure (115 vs 162 mmHg in 5-month-old rats and 113 vs 140 mmHg in 20-month-old rats), caused by passive smoking.…”

Neurotransmitters: central and peripheral mechanisms

“…Experimental paradigms in animals have indicated that 5-HT pathways exert a general inhibitory effect on male sexual behavior, 12 although these pathways may be inhibitory or facilitatory depending upon the action of the amine at different 5-HT receptors located in the central nervous system. 1,13 Despite this general understanding, con¯icting reports of 5-HT agonists either enhancing or depressing sexual function were recognized and then attributed to the action of multiple 5-HT receptors.…”