title: Effects of sympathetic inhibition on receptive, proceptive, and rejection behaviors in the female rat.
abstract: The present investigation was designed to examine the effects of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) inhibition on sexual behavior in ovariectomized, steroid-treated female rats. Clonidine, an alpha2-adrenergic agonist, guanethidine, a postganglionic noradrenergic blocker, and naphazoline, an alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist were used to inhibit SNS activity. Intraperitoneal injections of either 33 micrograms/ml or 66 micrograms/ml clonidine significantly decreased receptive (lordosis) and proceptive (ear wiggles) behaviors and significantly increased rejection behaviors (vocalization, kicking, boxing). Either 25 mg/ml or 50 mg/ml guanethidine significantly decreased receptive and proceptive behavior and had no significant effect on rejection behaviors. Naphazoline significantly inhibited lordosis behavior at either 5 mg/ml or 10 mg/ml doses, significantly inhibited proceptive behavior at 5 mg/ml, and had no significant effect on rejection behaviors. These findings support the hypothesis that SNS inhibition decreases sexual activity in the female rat.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Meston
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Gorzalka
mesh_terms: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006145:Guanethidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009278:Naphazoline / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D013565:Sympatholytics; D009278:Naphazoline; D003000:Clonidine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006145:Guanethidine