Dopamine, Erectile Function and Male Sexual Behavior from the Past to the Present: A Review

Abstract

Early and recent studies show that dopamine through its neuronal systems and receptor subtypes plays different roles in the control of male sexual behavior. These studies show that (i) the mesolimbic/mesocortical dopaminergic system plays a key role in the preparatory phase of sexual behavior, e.g., in sexual arousal, motivation and reward, whereas the nigrostriatal system controls the sensory-motor coordination necessary for copulation, (ii) the incertohypothalamic system is involved in the consummatory aspects of sexual behavior (penile erection and copulation), but evidence for its role in sexual motivation is also available, (iii) the pro-sexual effects of dopamine occur in concert with neural systems interconnecting the hypothalamus and preoptic area with the spinal cord, ventral tegmental area and other limbic brain areas and (iv) D2 and D4 receptors play a major role in the pro-sexual effects of dopamine. Despite some controversy, increases or decreases, respectively, of brain dopamine activity induced by drugs or that occur physiologically, usually improves or worsens, respectively, sexual activity. These findings suggest that an altered central dopaminergic tone plays a role in mental pathologies characterized by aberrant sexual behavior, and that pro-erectile D4 receptor agonists may be considered a new strategy for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men.

Sub-Chronic Restraint Stress Suppresses Sexual Potency and Erection Efficiency by Targeting the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis and the Nitric Oxide/Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate/Phosphodiesterase 5α Pathway in Adult Rats

“…Penile erection is facilitated by the neurotransmitters dopamine, acetylcholine, oxytocin, and serotonin, whereas the erection is inhibited by the hormones corticosterone and prolactin [9, 55, 56]. Comparable circulatory dopamine and oxytocin levels in RS-exposed groups suggest that repeated exposure to stress causes habituation, which quickly restores the altered serum concentrations of oxytocin and dopamine to near basal levels after stressor withdrawal [57].…”

“…High PDE5α expression as observed in the present study leads to hydrolysis of active cGMP (facilitate and expand the erection duration) to their inactive form 5′-GMP [54], which adversely affects the relaxation of corpora cavernosa smooth muscle resulting in erectile dysfunction. Penile erection is facilitated by the neurotransmitters dopamine, acetylcholine, oxytocin, and serotonin, whereas the erection is inhibited by the hormones corticosterone and prolactin [9,55,56]. Comparable circulatory dopamine and oxytocin levels in RS-exposed groups suggest that repeated exposure to stress causes habituation, which quickly restores the altered serum concentrations of oxytocin and dopamine to near basal levels after stressor withdrawal [57].…”

Short-term social isolation acts on hypothalamic neurons to promote social behavior in a sex- and context-dependent manner

“…Mesolimbic circuits play an important role in regulating social motivation and social reward, during courtship as well as during same-sex interactions (Bariselli et al, 2018; Dai et al, 2022; Dölen et al, 2013; Gunaydin et al, 2014; Hung et al, 2017; Love, 2014; Melis et al, 2022; Resendez et al, 2020; Robinson et al, 2011; Solié et al, 2022; Tang et al, 2014; Walum and Young, 2018; Xiao et al, 2017). In line with their role in regulating social behavior, changes in the function of mesolimbic circuits have been reported following long-term (weeks-long) social isolation and/or early-life social isolation (McWain et al, 2022; Musardo et al, 2022; Tan et al, 2021; Yorgason et al, 2016).…”

Environmental Epigenetics and Obesity

“…There is evidence that food cues increase extracellular DA of the striatum. Therefore, dopamine plays a role in the non-hedonic motivational properties of food [110,111]. Moreover, dopamine is suggested to encode the stimulatory properties of foods.…”