Dopamine and sexual function

Abstract

The use of the D 1 =D 2 dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine SL for the treatment of erectile dysfunction provides a strong support in favour of a participation of the dopaminergic system in the control of sexual function. However, the exact involvement of dopamine in sexual motivation and in the control of genital arousal in humans is unknown. In contrast, experimental data suggest an implication of dopamine at all these stages of the copulatory behaviour in rodents. The release of dopamine at the level of the nucleus accumbens, which is innervated by the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway originating in the ventral tegmental area, is positively implicated in the pre-copulatory or appetitive phase in male rats. There is also a permissive role in the copulatory or consumatory phase for dopamine released at the level of the median pre-optic area, which receives projection from the dopaminergic incertohypothalamic pathway within the hypothalamus. It is noteworthy that these participations of the dopaminergic system are not specific to sexual behaviour but rather reflect the more general involvement of dopamine in the regulation of cognitive, integrative and reward processes. Due to its role in the control of locomotor activity, the integrity of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway is also essential for the display of copulatory behaviour. Somehow more specific to sexual function, it is likely that dopamine can trigger penile erection by acting on oxytocinergic neurons located in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, and perhaps on the pro-erectile sacral parasympathetic nucleus within the spinal cord. The counterpart of such regulation of the genital arousal by dopamine has not yet been established in females. In conclusion, the central dopaminergic system is a key element of the control of sexual function.

Future social rank: forecasting status in the green anole (Anolis carolinensis)

“…The responsiveness of dopaminergic systems has been coupled as a predictor of social status in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) (Morgan et al 2000). Dopamine is also involved in regulating feeding and reproductive motivation (Giuliano and Allard 2001;Terry et al 1995) and appears to influence the motivated stereotypical agonistic behavior in Anolis and the memory of aggressive interaction ). Motivation to react may be viewed as a threshold effect.…”

Is it only a sleeping disorder or more? Restless legs syndrome and erectile function

“…Consistent with this finding, dopamine antagonists have been shown to worsen or elicit RLS symptoms [3,4]. The central dopaminergic system also plays a major role in the control of sexual functions [5]. Studies related to this subject have shown that dopamine in the hypothalamus (particularly the medial preoptic area) plays a role in regulating sexual behaviors via determining the strength of libido, arousal and erection [6].…”

Cardiovascular Health Hazards Impairing Sexual Vitality

“…Decreased dopamine activity known to depress mood can also depress sexual function. 61 It has also been shown that endothelial cells synthesize and release dopamine, and they do so in response to ischemia. 62 This causes a shortage of oxygen and glucose needed for cellular metabolism.…”