We investigated the influence of the extracellular nitric oxide (NO) level on male copulatory behavior. We confirmed the changes of nitrite ([Formula: see text]) and nitrate ([Formula: see text]) in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) by administration of the NO precursorl-arginine (l-Arg, 10 mM) or the NO synthase inhibitor N G-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA, 10 mM) via a dialysis probe. [Formula: see text] and[Formula: see text] were measured simultaneously by an in vivo microdialysis method coupled with the Griess reaction.l-Arg induced significant elevations of extracellular [Formula: see text]and [Formula: see text].l-NMMA significantly reduced[Formula: see text] and[Formula: see text] levels. We observed male copulatory behavior during infusion ofl-Arg orl-NMMA. The mount rate of male rats significantly increased during infusion ofl-Arg in the MPOA. Administration of l-NMMA reduced the mount rate. These findings suggested that the elevation of extracellular NO in the MPOA facilitates male copulatory behavior of rats, whereas the decrease of NO reduces their copulatory behavior.
The level of human seminal chorionic gonadotropin 0-subunit (hCGP) was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The mean hCGP level in 34 normal men was 3.7 f 1.6 ngfml, which was much higher than that in serum. The mean hCG0 level for 20 patients with mild oligozoospermia (20-39 x lo6 sperm/ml) was 2.5 f 0.8 ng/ml, that for 34 patients with severe oligozoospermia (1-19 x lo6 sperm/ ml) was 1.7 f 0.5 ng/ml, and that for 21 azoospermia was 1.5 * 0.6 ng/ml. Thus, the decrease of sperm count was correlated with the decrease of hCGP. In 17 cases to which testicular biopsy was applied together with sperm counting, the seminal hCG0 level was found to positively correlate with the germinal cell index (the ratio germinal cell count/Sertoli cell count) and with the testicular volume. The level of seminal hCGP was also found to correlate negatively with the levels of seminal LH and FSH and positively with the Ipvel of seminal testosterone. These findings suggest that the production of seminal hCGP is a process of spermatogenesis and closely related to spermatogenesis. The level of hCGP in serum was too low to detect, and no relation to that in seminal plasma could be investigated. However, in 6 cases with testicular tumor, the hCGP level in serum was high, whereas that in seminal plasma was rather low probably because of unilateral secretion. Enhanced production of hCG0 by tumor tissues and the dp-truction of the blood-testis barrier by proliferation of tumor cells seemed to be one of the causes of this high hCGP level in serum. The hCG0 levels in 13 vasectomized seminal plasma and the prostatic fluid samples collected from 3 normal men were 1.5 ng/ml, which was similar to those in azoospermic patients. These findings suggest that the seminal hCGP level consists of the hCGP secreted by the testis and about 1.5 nglml of hCGP from the prostate. Based on these results, seminal hCGP is thought to be secreted by the prostate and the process of spermatogenesis and the value of seminal hCGP may serve as an effective index for the testicular function.
Anti-androgenergic agents are usually used for patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). However steroidal anti-androgenergic agents tend to suppress the sexual function. This side effect is very significant in middle-aged men. Therefore we studied the preventive effect of indeloxazine hydrochloride (INDX), which induces an increase of the dopamine level in the brain, on the sexual dysfunction induced by an anti-androgenergic agent (allylestrenol: ALE). Thirty-six patients with BPH were classified into two groups, one used ALE only, and the other ALE with INDX. For the subjective evaluation of the sexual function, a self assessment questionnaire method was employed before and after administration. We especially studied 3 questions, "morning erection", "erectile capacity" and "frequency of sex". For the objective evaluation of the sexual function, nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) was measured using an erectometer. NPT occurs in healthy males as a physiological phenomenon and it shows the erectile capacity objectively. The levels of LH, total testosterone and free testosterone were also determined. In the ALE only group, sexual dysfunction was found subjectively and objectively, but in the ALE with INDX group, it was not found. Levels of LH, total testosterone and free testosterone were decreased in the both groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups. We hypothesized that the sexual dysfunction due to ALE is related with not only to the decrease of androgen, but also to suppression of the central nervous system; for example, the suppression of the area of the brain mediating sexual behavior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.