title: Cholinergic mechanisms and sexual behavior in the male rabbit.
abstract: The effects of cholinolytic as well as of cholinomimetic agents on sexual behavior in male rabbits were investigated. Castrated animals, injected with a supramaximal testosterone dose, were used. Scopolamine or methylscopolamine, 0.1 mg/kg, inhibited sexual activity. A dose of 0.02 mg had no effects. The muscarinic receptor-stimulating drug, pilocarpine, completely inhibited sexual activity at doses of 2, 10, and 50 mg/kg. A subeffective dose of methylscopolamine completely antagonized the effects of pilocarpine 2 mg/kg, partly the effect of pilocarpine 10 mg/kg, and not at all the effect of pilocarpine 50 mg/kg. Scopolamine completely antagonized the effects of pilocarpine 2 and 10 mg/kg, and not at all the effects of pilocarpine 50 mg/kg. The data indicate that the peripheral effects of both the receptor-blocking and stimulating agents is most important for the effects on sexual behavior, although a central site of action of pilocarpine cannot be ruled out.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D010862:Pilocarpine; D012601:Scopolamine