Perinatal administration of nicotine alters subsequent sexual behavior and testosterone levels of male rats

Abstract

The effect of pre- and/or postnatal administration of nicotine (0.25 mg/kg) on sexual behavior and testosterone levels in adult male rats was examined. Prenatal nicotine decreases male sexual behavior as measured by the number of males that mounted, intromitted or ejaculated. The males that did mount and/or ejaculate exhibited an increase in mount latency and number of mounts and a decrease in efficiency. This decrease was correlated with a decrease in plasma testosterone levels. Postnatal nicotine treatment improved the sexual performance of sexually naive males as measured by an increase in the number of males that completed 2 ejaculatory series and by a decrease in mount latency. This effect is transient, subsequent testing of the nicotine males eliminated this difference in sexual performance. Pre- and postnatal nicotine treatment did not affect the overall sexual performance of the male rats, although the number of mounts and intromissions during a second series decreased. Eye opening of male and female pups was accelerated with pre/postnatal nicotine administration. Birth weight, testis and levator ani weights, sex ration and number of pups per litter were not affected. We suggest that nicotine may act as a neuromodulator during sexual differentiation of the brain, demasculinizing the male progeny in rats. This effect is correlated with decreased testosterone levels during adulthood.