title: Effects of 5-HT3 agonists on reproductive behaviors in rats.
abstract: Activity at 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptor sites influences sexual behavior in male and female rats. 5-HT3 antagonists reportedly have no effect on copulatory activity in rats of either sex although they influence a variety of other behaviors. The effects of 5-HT3 agonists on sexual behavior are unknown. The following experiments were undertaken to assess the influence of the 5-HT3 agonists 1-phenylbiguanide (PBG) and 2-methyl-serotonin (2-Me-5-HT) on sexual behavior, when administered intracerebroventricularly. Consistent with earlier reports indicating that 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptor activity influences reproductive activity in a sex-dependent manner, PBG was found to facilitate male, but not female, rat sexual behavior. 2-Me-5-HT, however, failed to modify either female or male rat sexual activity. Evidence that PBG, but not 2-Me-5-HT, induces carrier-mediated dopamine release suggests that the effect of PBG in male rats is due to dopaminergic mediation. Overall, the present data indicate that 5-HT3 receptor activation has only slight effects on rat sexual behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tanco
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Gorzalka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001645:Biguanides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011187:Posture; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001645:Biguanides; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D012701:Serotonin; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; C045918:2-methyl-5-HT; C008846:phenyl biguanide