title: Proerectile effects of apomorphine in mice.
abstract: Dopaminergic pathways play a key role in the central control of sexual behavior. Stimulation of central dopaminergic receptors elicits penile erection in a variety of species and has been proposed as a treatment option for erectile dysfunction in humans. The present study investigated the proerectile effects of apomorphine in mice. In this species, subcutaneous injection of apomorphine (range: 0.11-110 microg/kg sc) elicited three different behavioral responses: erection, erection-like responses and genital grooming. Proerectile effects of apomorphine were dose-dependent. More than 50% of mice displayed erections after administration of 1.1-11 microg/kg of apomorphine sc. Proerectile effects of apomorphine were blocked by haloperidol, a central D2 antagonist, but not by domperidone, a peripherally active dopaminergic antagonist. We conclude that apomorphine elicits erection in mice. This effect is dose-dependent and due to activation of central D2 dopaminergic receptors. The mouse model may be useful for pharmacological approaches designed to provide a better understanding of the central mechanisms of penile erection and sexual behavior.
authors.affiliation: Olivier Rampin, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie des Fonctions Végétatives, UR1060, Bat 325, France. rampin@jouy.inra.fr
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rampin
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jérôme
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suaudeau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D023421:Models, Animal; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D006220:Haloperidol; D001058:Apomorphine