Biomedical subjects

J G Pfaus

Publications and source records attributed to J G Pfaus.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1987

Opioids and sexual behavior.

Opioids have long been known to inhibit sexual behavior. However, it is only within the last decade that the effects of opioids on sexual behavior have been studied extensively and a number of hormonal and neurochemical correlates established. In this review, the experimental literature on opioids and sexual behavior in humans and laboratory animals is examined. Clinical and anecdotal accounts of opioid use are also discussed, in addition to the pharmacology, neuroendocrinology, and biochemistry of opioid administration, to provide a synthesis of critical information. New research directions involving the study of endogenous opioid systems, opioid receptor subtypes, and the opioid modulation of neurotransmitter systems are outlined. Finally, a comprehensive bibliography of the human and animal literature is included.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Soundtrack contents and depicted sexual violence.

Male undergraduates were exposed to a videotaped depiction of heterosexual rape accompanied by one of three soundtracks: the original soundtrack (featuring dialogue and background rock music), relaxing music, or no sound. Subjective reports of sexual arousal, general enjoyment, perceived erotic content, and perceived pornographic content of the sequence were then provided by each subject. Results indicated that males exposed to the videotape accompanied by the original soundtrack found the sequence significantly more pornographic than males exposed to the sequence accompanied by either relaxing background music or no sound. Ratings of sexual arousal, general enjoyment, and the perceived erotic content, however, did not differ significantly across soundtrack conditions. These results are compatible with the assertion that the content of a video soundtrack may influence the impact of depicted sexual violence.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Dual effect of morphiceptin on lordosis behavior: possible mediation by different opioid receptor subtypes.

Intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions of the selective mu receptor agonist morphiceptin produce a dual effect on lordosis behavior in ovariectomized, steroid-primed rats. Low doses of morphiceptin (20 ng) inhibit lordosis whereas higher doses (2000 ng) facilitate this behavior. The present experiment tested whether naloxone, an antagonist of both high- and low-affinity mu receptors, or the long-acting high-affinity mu receptor antagonist naloxazone could block the dual effect of morphiceptin on lordosis. Ovariectomized rats primed with estrogen and progesterone received naloxone, naloxazone, or a control solution prior to ICV infusions of either 0, 20, or 2000 ng of morphiceptin. Naloxone reversed both the inhibition and facilitation of lordosis produced by morphiceptin, but had no effect on lordosis when administered before control infusions. In contrast, naloxazone reversed the inhibition but not the facilitation of lordosis. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of morphiceptin on lordosis reflects the activation of high-affinity mu receptors whereas the facilitatory effect reflects either the activation of low-affinity mu receptors or other opioid receptor subtypes. The failure of naloxone or naloxazone to affect lordosis in rats receiving control infusions of saline further suggests that endogenous opioid systems do not exert a tonic inhibitory or facilitatory action on lordosis behavior.

Analgesics↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Selective activation of opioid receptors differentially affects lordosis behavior in female rats.

The effects of opioid peptides that are highly selective ligands for mu receptors (morphiceptin). delta receptors (delta-receptor peptide), kappa receptors (dynorphin 1-9), and the mu/delta complex (beta-endorphin), were tested on lordosis behavior in ovariectomized rats primed with estrogen and progesterone. Intracerebroventricular infusions of beta-endorphin or morphiceptin both inhibited and facilitated lordosis in a dose-dependent fashion whereas all doses of delta-receptor peptide facilitated lordosis. Dynorphin 1-9 had no significant effect at any dose, although a trend toward increased lordosis quotients was observed 30 min after infusion. The effects of beta-endorphin, morphiceptin, and delta-receptor peptide were reversed with naloxone, although naloxone alone had no effect on lordosis behavior. These results indicate that the specific activation of opioid receptor subtypes differentially affects lordosis behavior. It appears that binding to high-affinity mu 1 receptors exerts an inhibitory influence on lordosis, whereas binding to low-affinity mu 2 receptors or delta receptors exerts a facilitatory influence. Binding to kappa receptors does not appear to affect lordosis behavior.

Angiotensin II↗