title: The impact of alcohol ingestion on erections in rats as measured by a novel bio-assay.
abstract: In rats, a syndrome of yawning and penile erection results from the administration of low doses of apomorphine, a dopamine receptor agonist shown to stimulate dopamine autoreceptors. Ethanol has been shown to influence dopamine metabolism. Low doses of ethyl alcohol (0.25 mg./kg.) failed significantly to alter apomorphine-induced yawning or penile erection, while 0.5 mg./kg. decreased erectile behavior but did not significantly alter the number of yawns. A reduction in both yawning and penile erection in response to apomorphine challenge was seen after the acute intraperitoneal injection of relatively high doses (1.0-3.0 mg./kg.) of ethanol. Two possible mechanisms of action may explain these phenomena. Alcohol may interfere with dopaminergic receptor mechanisms, or conversely, alcohol, through its actions on central dopamine metabolism may alter a second neurotransmitter/neuropeptide more directly responsible for the production of apomorphine-induced yawning and penile erection, possibly oxytocin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Heaton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varrin
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015000:Yawning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D000431:Ethanol; D001058:Apomorphine; D004298:Dopamine