Reduction In Sexual Behavior Research Articles

Behavioral and endocrine changes induced by perinatal fenvalerate exposure in female rats

Pyrethroid insecticides have recently been linked to endocrine disruption. Endocrine disrupting chemicals have been defined as exogenous agents that interfere with the synthesis, secretion, binding, action, or elimination of natural hormones in the body. Previous research conducted in our laboratory suggests that perinatal exposure to fenvalerate, a type-II pyrethroid, interferes with brain sexual organization in male pups, probably acting on a critical perinatal hormone-related period. In the present study we investigate the effects of maternal exposure to fenvalerate (FV) during the prenatal and postnatal periods of sexual brain organization of female offspring. Behavioral (open-field, stereotyped and sexual behaviors), physical (sexual maturation, body and uterine weights), and neuroendocrine (estrous cycle and gonadal hormone levels ) parameters were assessed. Results show that 1) sexual maturation was delayed, albeit body weight was unchanged until adulthood; 2) there was a reduction in sexual behavior; 3) the estrous cycle was abnormal, and the uterine weight at different phases of the estrous cycle was modified; 4) gonadal hormone levels in the plasma were not affected, neither was stereotypy nor open-field behaviors. These results were attributed to an anti-estrogenic effect of perinatal exposure to FV during the critical periods of female brain sexual organization.

Psychosexual functioning in opioid‐dependent women

Psychosexual functioning of opioid‐dependent women (N = 63) was compared to a socioeconomically similar group of non‐drug‐abusing women (N = 53) using the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI). Initial analyses revealed differences in sexual drive, liberal attitude, and both masculine and feminine gender‐role affiliation. When demographic differences between the two groups were statistically controlled, however, only liberal attitude and femininity subscale differences remained significant. Although both opioid‐dependent and comparison group women reported similar types of sexual experiences (lifetime), opioid‐dependent women reported greater recent reduction in sexual behaviors related to anal intercourse and anal stimulation. Both opioid‐dependent and clinic women differed significantly from the DSFI normative sample, highlighting the importance of controlling for demographic differences when using standardized psychological assessment tools. Implications of study findings for AIDS prevention an...

Intraventricular prolactin inhibits hypothalamic vasoactive-intestinal polypeptide-expression in doves.

While the role of prolactin in promoting the development of the crop-sac in members of the pigeon family (Columbiformes) is well established, its action in the central nervous system is less well understood. In the present study, prolactin was administered intracerebroventricularily (i.c.v.) in ring doves, and central expression of vasoactive-intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and the display of sexual behavior was investigated. Ovine-prolactin (1 microgram in 2 microliters o-prl) was injected daily for six days through chronically implanted cannula either prior to a 2-h period of courtship, or late in incubation. Control subjects were given vehicle injections and were otherwise identical to experimental animals. Prolactin administered prior to courtship resulted in a reduction of sexual behavior, and in a decrease in testicular weight but had no detectable effect on the number of neurons expressing VIP or GnRH. In contrast, i.c.v. prolactin during incubation resulted in a reduced number of infundibular VIP-positive neurons and decreased crop weight. We conclude that during incubation prolactin regulates its own synthesis and/or release by modulating VIP expression in infundibular neurons.

Risk reduction in sexual behavior: a condom giveaway program in a drug abuse treatment clinic.

Just before and 4 months after initiation of a condom giveaway program, a questionnaire regarding sexual behavior and condom acquisition was administered to 103 men attending an outpatient drug abuse treatment clinic. Jars filled with a variety of condoms were placed in every clinic room. Condom taking varied as a function of room. Sixty percent of the subjects reported taking condoms. At follow-up, clients reported increases in condom possession and in use of condoms for vaginal intercourse.

Prenatal stress reduces fertility of male offspring in mice, without affecting their adult testosterone levels

The male offspring of mice stressed by crowding during the final third of pregnancy showed reductions in sexual behavior and fertility. When paired with receptive females, their latencies to mount and to achieve intromission and ejaculation were greater than controls, and 30% of them failed to ejaculate in the 100-min test. When housed continuously for 4 days with females, 31% of them failed to impregnate their partners, compared with 4% of controls. The sexual receptivity of the untreated females paired with prenatally stressed males was not affected. Resting testosterone levels of prenatally stressed males did not differ from those of controls, and the pattern of rise and fall of testosterone during a 60-min interaction with a female showed only minor differences. The results suggest a central, rather than peripheral, mediation of the behavioral effects of prenatal Stress.

Sexual behavior of the male diabetic rat

Male rats with subtotal pancreatectomy (95 per cent) show a reduction in sexual behavior with blood sugar above 200 mg % during 1 hr tests in observation chambers facing a female receptive rat. Occasionally they don't achieve ejaculation, displaying a behavior similar to that after castration, but more often lacking any sexual drive. These results were corroborated by a parallel reduction of the ability to inseminate normal female rats in the usual cages, as revealed by daily vaginal smears during five days of cohabitation tests. These facts were not related to body weight. The likely dependence of these findings on alterations in the anterior zone of hypothalamus is also discussed.

Hormonal control of courtship behaviour in the pigeon ( Columba livia)

Castration and steroid hormone replacement were used to investigate courtship behaviour in unmated male pigeons ( Columba livia). Sexual behaviour was eliminated by castration. Displacement preening was markedly reduced but not absent in castrated birds. Exogenous testosterone in pellet form induced normal levels of sexual behaviour in castrated males. Progesterone alone was ineffective. When testosterone and progesterone were simultaneously present, control levels of sexual behaviour were not exceeded. Progesterone inhibition of androgen-induced behaviour appears to occur at the level of the central nervous system since development of the ductus deferens in response to testosterone or to progesterone in concert was equivalent. It is proposed that a progesterone-mediated reduction in sexual behaviour enhances development of parental behaviour in both sexes during the normal reproductive cycle.

Copulatory behavior of male hamsters as a function of time since androgen withdrawal

The copulatory behavior of three groups of sexually experienced male hamsters was observed after androgen withdrawal. Each group was given four tests spaced five days apart: Group I began 45 days, Group II 60 days, and Group III 75 days after hormone removal. Amount of copulatory activity was found to be similar for all groups. In experienced males, the reduction of sexual behavior following androgen withdrawal may involve an active extinction process.