Male rat sexual behavior induces changes in [3H]flunitrazepam binding.
The effect of male rat sexual behavior on the binding of [3H]-flunitrazepam (FNP) in frontal cortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus was measured. The groups included were: (A) control (no sexual experience) handled males; (B) male rats sacrificed 24 h after their fifth mating experience; (C) males sacrificed 48 h after their fifth mating experience; (D) male rats sacrificed after 5 intromissions during the sixth mating experience; and (E) males sacrificed immediately after the ejaculation during the sixth mating experience. Relative to handled controls, significant decreases in maximal [3H]-FNP binding (Bmax) were observed in frontal cortex and hippocampus of animals sacrificed after 5 intromissions and in frontal cortex of rats sacrificed 24 h after the last mating experience. Relative to males sacrificed after 5 intromissions, males sacrificed immediately after ejaculation exhibited a rapid increase in Bmax in frontal cortex and hippocampus. No between-group differences in Kd for [3H]-FNP were noted, and sexual experience had no effect on the Bmax of [3H]-FNP in the hypothalamus.
Division de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Mexicano de Psiquiatria, CINVESTAV, IPN, D.F.
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Saldivar-Gonzalez
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Fernandez-Guasti
A M
AM
Etgen
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000378:metabolism*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism*; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005445:Flunitrazepam