Facilitation of sexual behavior in male rats following d-amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization |
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Authors: | Dennis F Fiorino A G Phillips |
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Institution: | (1) University of British Columbia, Department of Psychology, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver BC, Canada V6T 1Z4 e-mail: aphillips@cortex.psych.ubc.ca, Fax: +1-604-822-6923, CA |
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Abstract: | The present study investigated the effect of sensitization, induced by repeated injections of d-amphetamine, on sexual behavior in the naive male rat tested in a drug-free state. Injections of either d-amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg, IP) or saline were given every other day for a total of ten injections, and this regimen induced
behavioral sensitization of locomotor activity in drug-treated rats. After a 3-week post-drug period, d-amphetamine-treated rats exhibited facilitated sexual behavior, as indicated by shorter latencies to mount and intromit,
and a greater percentage of rats copulating. These rats also exhibited a general increase in the amount of copulation. Furthermore,
sensitized rats displayed a facilitated acquisition of sexual behavior (i.e. mount and intromission latency <300 s for 3 consecutive
days). After repeated sexual experience, rats pre-treated with d-amphetamine also showed an augmented increase in level changes made in anticipation of the presentation of a receptive female.
Finally, enhanced sexual behavior was independent of the environment in which repeated administration of d-amphetamine occurred, indicating that facilitation was not a consequence of conditioned associations between drug and test
environment. These results demonstrate that behavioral sensitization due to repeated psychostimulant administration can “cross-sensitize”
to a natural motivated behavior, such as sex. Furthermore, the subsequent facilitation of anticipatory sexual behavior (i.e.
level changes) after repeated experience in rats previously treated with d-amphetamine suggests that behavioral sensitization can influence incentive learning.
Received: 10 June 1998/Final version: 7 August 1998 |
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Keywords: | Sensitization d-Amphetamine Sexual behavior Motivation Appetitive Consummatory Mesolimbic dopamine Conditioning |
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