title: Individual prolactin reactivity modulates response of nucleus accumbens to erotic stimuli during acute cannabis intoxication: an fMRI pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Self-report studies indicate that cannabis could increase sexual desire in some users. We hypothesized that intoxication increases activation of brain areas responsive to visual erotica, which could be useful in the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder, a condition marked by a lack of sexual desire.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to assess the aphrodisiacal properties of cannabis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an open-randomized study with 21 heterosexual casual cannabis users. A 3T MRI was used to measure brain activation in response to erotic pictures. Blood samples were collected to determine the serum levels of cannabinoids, cortisol and prolactin. Participants were grouped according to whether they had ever experienced any aphrodisiacal effects during intoxication (Group A) or not (Group non-A).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intoxication was found to significantly increase activation in the right nucleus accumbens in the Group A while significantly decreasing activation in the Group non-A. There was also a significant interaction between the group and intoxication, with elevated prolactin in the Group non-A during intoxication. No intoxication-related differences in subjective picture evaluations were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cannabis intoxication increases activation of the right nucleus accumbens to erotic stimuli. This effect is limited to users whose prolactin is not elevated in response to intoxication. This effect may be useful in the treatment of low sexual desire.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic. renata.androvicova@nudz.cz.|Third Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. renata.androvicova@nudz.cz.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Androvicova
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic.|Third Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horacek
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic.|Institute of clinical and experimental medicine, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tintera
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hlinka
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic.|Institute of clinical and experimental medicine, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rydlo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jezova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, First Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balikova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, First Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hlozek
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic.|Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miksatkova
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic.|Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuchar
authors.affiliation: Police of the Czech Republic, Institute of criminalistics Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roman
authors.affiliation: Police of the Czech Republic, Institute of criminalistics Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tomicek
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic.|Third Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tyls
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic.|Third Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viktorinova
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic.|Third Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palenicek
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D002188:Cannabis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004882:Erotica; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007989:Libido / Q000941:ethics* / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D002185:Cannabidiol; D013759:Dronabinol; D011388:Prolactin; C587251:nabiximols; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cannabis; Cortisol; Dopamine; Hypoactive sexual desire; Hypothalamus; Nucleus accumbens; Prolactin; fMRI