Inhibitory and disinhibitory effects of psychomotor stimulants and depressants on the sexual behavior of male and female rats.
Drugs of abuse comprise several pharmacological classes, including psychomotor stimulants, such as amphetamine and cocaine, and CNS depressants, such as morphine and alcohol. Few studies have examined the effects of those drugs systematically on human sexual behavior, although substantial clinical and epidemiological literatures suggest that drugs in both classes either inhibit sexual responding or can be "prosexual" in certain situations, thereby increasing the potential of risky sexual activity and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. This paper reviews original data in rats showing that both classes of drug inhibit or disinhibit sexual behavior depending on the animal's baseline level of sexual responding, hormonal status, whether the drug is given acutely or chronically, and whether the animal has learned to inhibit sexual responding toward nonreceptive partners or in the presence of conditioned olfactory cues that predict sexual nonreward.
Pfaus
James G
JG
Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke W., Montréal, QC, Canada H4B 1R6. Jim.Pfaus@concordia.ca
Wilkins
Mark F
MF
Dipietro
Nina
N
Benibgui
Michael
M
Toledano
Rachel
R
Rowe
Anna
A
Couch
Melissa Castro
MC
D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants