Effects of D2-dopaminergic receptor stimulation on male rat sexual behavior

Summary The effects of selective D₂-dopaminergic receptor stimulation with LY163502 on male rat copulatory behavior were evaluated. LY163502 (25 ng/kg to 25g/kg s. c.) produced increases in the percentage of sexually inactive rats displaying mounting behavior and ejaculating during the test period. Within this same dose range, LY163502 administration induced an increase in the percentage of non-ejaculator rats that were capable of ejaculation. These findings are viewed as evidence that LY163502 can initiate sexual behavior and lower the threshold for ejaculation. The effects of LY163502 were further evaluated in rats that were capable of ejaculation during the test period. LY163502 (25 ng/kg to 25g/kg s. c. or p. o.) induced significant reductions in ejaculatory latency. These effects were blocked by prior treatment with centrally active dopaminergic antagonists, RO 22-1319 and sulpiride, but not with a peripherally active antagonist, domperidone.LY163502 administration was also found to inhibit sexual behavior in low doses of 25 pg/kg –10 ng/kg s. c. and in a much larger dose of 25 mg/kg s. c. These inhibitory effects are viewed as behavioral manifestations of selective dopaminergic autoreceptor activation with low doses and as the disruption of sexual behavior by induction of intense stereotypic behavior with high doses.     

A comparison of three methods of scoring penile circumference changes

There are presently three widely used methods of scoring penile circumference data. The present experiment attempted to determine the ability of each method to explain the variance within a data set. A total of 19 subjects were presented with 20 photographic slides assigned to five categories: neutral, female adult, female adolescent, male adult, and male adolescent. Erectile responses to each slide were recorded and the data analyzed in terms of the raw scores, percentage of full erection, and a z-score transformation. Results indicated that the z scores captured the highest proportion of the variance (52.7%), followed by the percentage scores (32.5%), and the raw scores (30.1%). Findings are discussed in terms of their research and clinical implications.     

Pain during sexual activity and ejaculation following hernia repair: A retrospective comparison of transabdominal preperitoneal versus Lichtenstein repair

Pain during sexual activity and ejaculation are the unspoken long-term complications of groin hernia repair. Laparoscopic surgical techniques are associated with decreased post-operative pain and earlier return to daily activities, but its effect on these complications is unclear. This study aims to investigate the effect of transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) on de-novo pain during sexual intercourse and ejaculation and to compare with open repair. For this reason, two groups were determined according to the surgical technique: the Lichtenstein repair and the TAPP groups and a questionnaire was sent to the patients a minimum of 6 months following the surgery. A total of 317 patients included, as 115 in TAPP and 202 in Lichtenstein repair group. No significant difference was observed concerning pre-operative pain during sexual activity and ejaculation in both groups (p = .75, p = .56). Following the surgery, the number of patients experiencing painful sexual activity was significantly higher in the Lichtenstein repair group compared to the TAPP group (19.3% vs. 11.3%, respectively, p = .03). The post-operative painful ejaculation rate was also significantly lower for the TAPP group (p = .04). The lower rates of post-operative dysejaculation and pain during sexual activity can be achieved with the advantage of laparoscopic surgery.     

Sexual functioning of male anabolic steroid abusers

The effects of anabolic steroid use on male sexual behavior were assessed using a structured clinical interview administered to male body builders currently using steroids, and to two comparison groups (body builders with a past but not current history of steroid use, and a group of natural body builders who had never used steroids). Current anabolic steroid users had a significantly higher coital and orgasmic frequency than did comparison athletes. They also reported a significantly higher incidence of erectile difficulties during the past month. Beliefs concerning the sexually stimulating effects of steroids did not correlate with the frequencies of specific sexual behaviors. The data support the contention that anabolic steroids, as androgenic compounds, enhance sexual desire.     

Social/sexual awareness of persons with autism: A parental perspective

A parental survey that addressed the social sexual awareness, sex education, and sex behaviors of persons with autism, a developmental disability is provided. Questionnaires from 100 caregivers of persons with autism 9 years of age and older and with the DSM-III-R diagnosis were analyzed. Eighty-five percent of respondents were mothers, 8% both parents, 5% fathers, and 2% others; 32% of the persons with autism were female and 68% male with an age range of 9.1 to 38.9 years. The verbal level of the person with autism related to parents' beliefs about the relevance of sex relations (² = 6.99, p < 0.05) and sex education (² = 22.91, p < 0.001). No relationship between parents' report of the verbal level of the individual and the display of inappropriate sexual behaviors was found (² = 2.56, ns). Parents of males were more concerned about their son being taken advantage of by a same-sex person (² = 15.90, p < 0.001); parents of females were worried about an opposite-sex person (² = 4.06, p < 0.05). Parental concerns and beliefs regarding sexuality varied and could not be generalized. The nonsignificant finding regarding verbal level and display of inappropriate sexual behaviors suggests that the need for sex education is best determined by the behaviors of the person rather than the functioning or verbal levels.     

Homosexual foot fetishism

262 respondents from an organization for homosexual foot fetishists provide information from a broader sample than clinical cases and allow examination of the effects of sexual preference on fetishism. Data show a wide range of feet/footwear objects to be arousing. Such interests were often associated with particular types of men, yet interests were subject to change over time. Fetishistic arousal rested on both sensual and symbolic aspects of the fetish. Symbolically, it was the theme of masculinity that made male feet/footwear arousing, showing parallels to femininity evoked by female feet/footwear for male heterosexual fetishists. For many of the respondents, fetishism did not seem to be a substitute for living persons. Respondents had intimate relationships and were able to incorporate their fetish interests into stable relationships and less intimate ones. Considerable involvement in sadomasochistic practices was also found as was involvement in the gay world. Finally, nothing about a fetishistic interest seemed to preclude the development of subcultural forms around the practice.     

The effects of alcohol abuse on children and the partner's capacity to initiate change

This paper identifies the social, psychological and cognitive effects of parental alcohol abuse on children across the lifecycle. While the evidence regarding cognitive effects is mixed, there is ample evidence of negative effects on a range of developmental outcomes. Recent advances in unilateral partner interventions open up one avenue for ameliorating this damage even when the drinker is resistant to change.     

A review of the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol at therapeutic or near-therapeutic dose levels, with particular reference to alcohol abusers

The number of published reports associating hepatotoxicity with paracetamol ingestion at therapeutic or near-therapeutic dose levels is small but is, nevertheless, suggestive of a relationship. There is however, mounting evidence that certain groups of patients, such as alcohol-dependent people, patients receiving enzyme-inducing drugs (particularly anti-convulsant and anti-tuberculosis medications) as well as those with certain infectious diseases, are rendered more susceptible to paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. Seventy-four case reports where therapeutic or near-therapeutic doses of paracetamol resulted in hepatic injury are reviewed and factors and mechanisms which might explain this apparently increased vulnerability to damage are discussed.