Effects of short- and long-term REM sleep deprivation on sexual behavior in male rats.
The influence of selective REM sleep deprivation on masculine sexual behavior has been a matter of controversy. In the present study, the sexual behavior of male rats was analyzed in subjects deprived on REM sleep by the island technique for 24 or 16 h daily during 20 days. When compared to control rats, both groups displayed changes in sexual performance since the first day. The effects were: an increase in mount, intromission and ejaculation latencies and in mount frequency as well; a decrease of ejaculation frequency and of the Hit rate. The effects became stronger as REM sleep deprivation progressed. Rats deprived of REM sleep for 24 h were extremely debilitated after 12 days and some of them died, whereas the rats REM deprived for 16 h remained healthy during the 20 days. These data indicate that REM sleep deprivation interferes with the mechanisms that regulate male sexual behavior.
Velazquez-Moctezuma
J
J
Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Purísima y Michoacan, México City, México.
Salazar
E D
ED
Retana-Marquez
S
S
D000818:Animals; D003307:Copulation; D004542:Ejaculation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012892:Sleep Deprivation; D012895:Sleep, REM