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PubMed2004

Facilitation of aggressive and sexual behaviors by saccharin deprivation in rats.

The 'deprivation effect' (DE) phenomenon is expressed as an increase in the level of free choice consumption of drugs, alcohol, or saccharin following a period of forced abstinence in humans and in several species of laboratory animals. The DE may reflect relapse-like drinking and be relevant for modeling addictive behaviors. In humans, drug or alcohol abstinence is commonly associated with the increased physical and sexual abuse. The present study aimed to study whether aggressive and sexual behaviors are affected by the conditions known to result in the DE. Adult male Wistar rats had unlimited free choice access to water and saccharin-containing solution (0.1%, w/v). After the preference for saccharin was established, animals underwent repeated 7-day-long episodes of saccharin deprivation. It was found that (i) aggressive and sexual behaviors were facilitated after 7 days of saccharin deprivation, and (ii) DE was significantly reduced in animals that were allowed to interact with the nonaggressive male or receptive female conspecifics during the last day of deprivation exposure. These results suggest that the saccharin deprivation exposures may facilitate aggressive and sexual behaviors. Alternative behavioral strategy may serve as a mechanism of coping with the deprivation state.

Aggression↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Risky sexual behavior and alcohol use among young adults: results from a national survey.

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between alcohol use and sexual activity in a sample of young adults. DESIGN: Data were collected as part of a 1990 survey of a multistage area household probability sample. SETTING: In-home interviews were conducted by experienced interviewers. SUBJECTS: In total, 1006 persons from 18 to 30 years of age living in the contiguous United States were contacted. MEASURES: Detailed information was collected on alcohol use and sexual behavior. To minimize the reluctance of respondents to answer queries on sexual behavior, those questions were contained in a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: At the population level, having had multiple sexual partners in the past year was more likely among men who consumed five or more drinks per sitting. Condom use was less likely among respondents who had consumed five or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past year. In multivariate analyses, the amount of alcohol consumed at the new partner event was not associated with condom use with a new partner. When the effects of other demographic and psychosocial factors were removed, the number of drinks consumed during the heaviest drinking event was a significant predictor of engaging in sex for women but not for men. CONCLUSION: In young adults, alcohol use with sex does not necessarily lead directly to lapses in judgment about safe sexual practices. Alcohol is but one of a number of factors that play an important role in determining the riskiness of a particular sexual encounter.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Student sexual behavior at the University of Bangui in the Central African Republic].

Encouraging responsible sexual behavior has become an important issue in recent years mainly due to the worldwide human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic and to the high number of unwanted pregnancies that often end in high-risk abortions. Young people and in particular students in higher education are high-risk groups for both unwanted pregnancy and HIV. The purpose of this report is to describe the findings of a month-long survey conducted among students at the University of Bangui (UB) in 1998-1999. Individual students were asked to give immediate responses to semi-open questions. The Chi test was used to assess correlation between a number of variables. A total of 422 UB students including 218 males (51.7%) and 204 females (483%) were included in the survey. Mean age was 24.9 years for females and 26.1 years for males. Over half of the students of both sexes reported having their first sexual relation between the ages of 15 and 19 years. Males were more satisfied by their first experience than females. The percent of married students (male or female) was 5.9%. Most students (62.1%) had at least 2 sex partners and 58.3% had at least one child. The preferred contraceptive method was condom use for males and the Ogino technique for females. The percent of female students expressing fear of HIV infection was 27.4%. The results of this study show that information and education campaigns are needed to encourage UB students to practice sexual behavior to avoid both unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV infection.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

An improved chamber for the observation and analysis of the sexual behavior of the female rat.

A new chamber designed to evaluate the sexual behavior of rats was found to have distinct advantages over chambers typically described in the literature. The new testing chamber is narrow, which maintains a male and female rat in the optimal orientation for the observer to view sexual behavior, i.e., in the side view. Moreover, the chamber consists of an upper and lower level, which allows the females an avenue of escape from the male. In Experiment 1 it was shown that use of the chamber increased the reliability of data gathered in evaluating the lordosis behavior of female rats. In Experiment 2 it was shown that the new chamber could be used to evaluate the pacing of copulation by female rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Recent sexual behaviors among homosexual men seeking primary medical care.

We studied the sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, and beliefs about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome transmission and sexual practices of 823 gay or bisexual men seeking primary care. During the previous 2 months, 64% had engaged in at least one sexual behavior considered unsafe. These patients compared with those having safer sex, were younger, of lower socioeconomic status, and from a racial minority, especially Latino. The unsafe group also had more sexual partners, engaged in sexual acts more often, felt less in control over their sexual behavior, used recreational drugs more frequently, and were less likely to talk about safe sex with partners. The unsafe group had less adequate knowledge about human immunodeficiency virus transmission but felt safer from the risk of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome even when engaging in unsafe sex. Educational programs dealing more directly with belief systems and the potential addiction to recreational drugs and sexual behaviors need to be developed for primary care settings.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1995

The possible involvement of the nonstrial pathway of the amygdala in neural control of sexual behavior in male rats.

The effect of medial amygdala lesions on male sexual behavior in male rats with stria terminalis cut was examined. First, castrated male rats received bilateral transections of the stria terminals (STC) or sham cut (SC). Most STC males showed no ejaculation, but displayed mount and intromission, although the frequencies were not high compared to those of males with SC. Next, bilateral lesions of the medial amygdala (MAL) or sham lesion (SL) were performed in males with STC or SC. The MAL caused severe loss of all aspects of copulatory behavior in males with STC as well as in males with SC. The suppressive effect of the MAL on copulatory activity was stronger than that of the STC. These results indicate that a neural pathway other than the stria terminalis is involved in the regulation of male sexual behavior by the amydgala in male rats.

Amygdala↗

PubMed2005

Effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone on cannibalism, sexual behavior, and contact sex pheromone in the solitary female spider, Tegenaria atrica.

We investigated the effect of exogenously administered 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) on sexual behavior and on contact sex signals of adult females of the spider Tegenaria atrica. In untreated or control females cannibalism occurred in 36-47% of encounters, whereas no cannibalism at all was observed with 20E-treated females. The frequency of sexual receptivity was low (42%) in untreated or control females and high (100%) in 20E-treated females. Variability of female sexual behavior could be related to quantitative changes in web and cuticular compounds. We showed that 20E altered the production of polar contact sex pheromones on web and cuticle: methylesters and fatty acids are produced in higher amounts in 20E-treated females. Bioassays demonstrated clearly that methylesters and fatty acids of webs and cuticles were involved in attraction of males. Moreover, bioassays with synthetic substances showed that four fatty acids (myristic, pentadecanoic, hexadecanoic, and oleic acids) and one methylester (methyl stearate) are particularly effective in eliciting sexual behavior in males. In T. atrica, 20E inhibits cannibalism during sexual activity and changes sex pheromone production.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Preschoolers' sexual behavior at daycare centers: an epidemiological study.

The frequency of sexual behaviors in a population of preschoolers (n = 251) attending Swedish daycare centers was studied using a questionnaire given to the staff. Some behaviors turned out to be frequently occurring, like searching for body contact and responding to such contact. However, several behaviors were very uncommon (1% or fewer): touching an adult's genitals; attempting to make the adult touch the child's genitals; using objects against own or other child's genitals/anus; to masturbate obsessively, without pleasure or in a way that caused pain. Other behaviors occurred more frequently but were still uncommon (less than 2% of the children displayed such a behavior "sometimes" or "often/daily"): exhibiting own genitals; playing sexually explorative games; initiating games with a similarity to adult sexual activity; using sexual words; attempting to touch a woman's breast. Only masturbation and clinging body contact were positively correlated with behavioral disturbance. The correlations between age and single behaviors may be summarized as manifestations of the process of socialization. The results offer an incipient frame of reference for statistically normal expected sexual behaviors in preschoolers at daycare centers. The rarity of certain behaviors implies that their occurrence in an individual case may necessitate special clinical attention.

Child↗

PubMed2002

Chronic oral administration of clomipramine decreases sexual behavior in the male Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).

Previous studies have demonstrated that clomipramine (CLI), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, has negative side effects on sexual behavior when administered to adult rats and humans. In addition, neonatal rat pups given chronic doses of CLI display similar sexual deficits upon sexual maturity. This study used two experiments to test the hypothesis that 2 weeks of CLI would cause a decrease in sexual motivation and performance in the male Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). Experiment 1 administered 0, 40, or 60 mg/kg CLI for 14 days to adult male hamsters via a sugar water solution. Experiment 2 administered 0, 40, or 60 mg/kg CLI for 14 days to pregnant dams during gestation (also via a sugar water solution). We hypothesized that this administration of CLI via the pregnant mother would have long-lasting developmental effects on the male hamster pups resulting in later dysfunction in male sexual behavior. Results from Experiment 1 indicate that CLI administration to adult males caused a significant decrease in the number of ejaculations compared to controls. The only significant difference in sexual behavior between those males whose mothers received CLI during pregnancy compared to males from untreated mothers was an increase in the number of intromissions in the highest dosage group. These findings demonstrate that CLI inhibits sexual performance in adult male Syrian hamsters, and also suggest that oral administration of CLI via a sugar water solution is an effective mode of administration.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sexual behavior in Japanese males relating to area occupation, smoking, drinking and eating habits.

Sexual behavior was evaluated in 2228 Japanese males aged from 42 to 94 years of age. They were interviewed individually by well-trained urologists, when mass screening for prostatic diseases was performed. Concerning the first sexual intercourse early could be distinguished by the same characteristics. The age of impotence in office workers and daily smokers was significantly young. Compared with American males in the literature, the characteristic features of sexual behavior in Japanese males were as follows; 1) The age of first sexual intercourse was more than 7 years after that of American males, 2) The frequency of sexual intercourse before 40 years of age was higher, but that after 40 years of age was less, than that of American males, 3) The age at which sexual intercourse was no longer practiced was almost the same in the two countries.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prevention of HIV infection through changes in sexual behavior.

Ample evidence exists that behavioral interventions reduce high risk sexual behaviors and promote safer practices. Downstream interventions in settings attracting high risk patients work well, especially with infected persons to avert new infections. Preparing health care workers for intensive, skills-based interventions grounded in behavioral science theory would enhance primary prevention. Midstream interventions have reliably reduced risk in primary care and community settings. Adoption of comprehensive skills-based programs in schools is controversial but likely to improve outcomes. Upstream community approaches have slowed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence among men having sex with men. Upstream policy interventions remain underutilized in the U.S. but have been successful internationally. Needed are a national HIV prevention strategy and research linking behavior change to reduced HIV seroprevalence.

Behavior Therapy↗

PubMed2004

Restoration of male sexual behavior by adult exogenous estrogens in male aromatase knockout mice.

We previously found that male aromatase knockout (ArKO) mice that carry a targeted mutation in exons 1 and 2 of the CYP19 gene and as a result cannot aromatize androgen to estrogen show impaired sexual behavior in adulthood. To determine whether this impairment was due to a lack of activation of sexual behavior by estradiol, we studied here male coital behavior as well as olfactory investigation of sexually relevant odors in male ArKO mice following adult treatment with estradiol benzoate (EB) or dihydrotestosterone propionate (DHTP). Again, we found that gonadally intact ArKO males show pronounced behavioral deficits affecting their male coital behavior as well as their olfactory investigation of volatile body odors but not that of soiled bedding. Deficits in male coital behavior were largely corrected following adult treatment with EB and the androgen DHTP, suggesting that estradiol has prominent activational effects on this behavior. By contrast, adult treatment with EB to either castrated or gonadally intact ArKO males did not stimulate olfactory investigation of volatile body odors, suggesting that this impairment may result from a lack of proper organization of this behavior during ontogeny due to the chronic lack of estrogens. In conclusion, the present studies suggest that the behavioral deficits in sexual behavior in male ArKO mice result predominantly from a lack of activation of the behavior by estrogens. This is in contrast with earlier pharmacological studies performed on rats and ferrets that have suggested strong organizational effects of estradiol on male sexual behavior.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2006

Sexual behaviors and mental perception, satisfaction and expectations of sex life in men and women in France.

AIM: To analyze behaviors, mental perception, satisfaction, and expectations relating to sexuality in France. METHODS: A total of 1,002 subjects (483 men and 519 women) aged 35 years and over in a representative sample of the French population were surveyed by phone using a dedicated questionnaire in November 2003. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sexual behaviors and mental perception, satisfaction and expectations concerning sexual life. RESULTS: Of the population, 80.2% reported having a sexual partner. The mean number of times subjects had sex per week was 1.8 (2.0 in men, 1.6 in women). The decision preceded the act by a few seconds or minutes in 82.7% of subjects. Thinking about sex was "frequent" in 47.1% of subjects, especially for men (60.8%). Regardless of gender, sexuality was more synonymous with pleasure (44.0%) and love (42.1%) than with procreation, children, or motherhood (7.8%). During sexual intercourse, simultaneous orgasms and feelings of closeness were important for the majority of subjects, 35.8% (41.6% of men) and 22.8%, respectively; foreplay, enjoyment, and vaginal penetration were the most important accomplishments for 13.1%. Regardless of gender, 83.0% of subjects expressed relative or full satisfaction with their sex life. However, only 38.7% of subjects (31.6% of men and 45.2% of women) did not wish to change anything, while 17.2% would like to have more time for it. Of the subjects, 63.0% reported a decrease in sexual desire during periods of work-related stress, especially in women (72.3%). The main sexual complaints reported by men were diminution of sexual desire (24.9%), early ejaculation (23.7%), and erectile problems (14.4%). In women, they were diminution of sexual desire (45.7%), orgasm disorders (15.5%), and dyspareunia (15.5%). CONCLUSIONS: This survey showed that the attitude of subjects, especially men, toward sexuality is changing through years and highlighted the extent of sexual problems in the general population.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2004

Seasonal variation in testicular volume and sexual behavior of Chios and Serres rams.

The seasonality of testicular volume and sexual behavior in two Greek breeds of sheep, Chios and Serres, was studied using 10 mature rams of each breed. The rams were kept out of breeding during 2 consecutive years. Live weight was recorded at monthly intervals. Testicular volume was measured at 2-week intervals using an orchidometer. Sexual behavior was recorded at 4-week intervals by exposing rams to oestradiol-treated ovariectomized ewes. The total number of mounts and matings, and the reaction time to first mount and mating were recorded. Chios rams were heavier than Serres rams (87.4 +/- 2.0 kg versus 76.4 +/- 1.9 kg, respectively). All traits varied significantly with month but only testicular volume exhibited a clear seasonal trend in both breeds, with a maximum volume in July-August and a minimum in February-April. Number of mounts showed clear seasonal trend in the Chios breed, with maximum in November. Number of mounts was significantly correlated with length of daylight (-0.18 and -0.21 for Chios and Serres, respectively; P < 0.01) and relative humidity (0.14 and 0.17 for Chios and Serres, respectively; P < 0.05). Testicular volume was positively correlated with air temperature (0.28; P < 0.01) and relative humidity (-0.23; P < 0.01) in the Serres breed only. Results of this study suggest that the testicular volume and number of mounts exhibit seasonal variation in the Chios and Serres rams.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Sexual behavior and copulatory thrusting patterns in male rabbits treated with GABA transaminase inhibitors.

The effects of enhanced central nervous system GABA levels on sexual behavior and copulatory pelvic thrusting were evaluated in male New Zealand white rabbits. The GABA transaminase inhibitors sodium valproate and gamma-acetylen GABA (GAG), in doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg and 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively, were intraperitoneally administered and sexual behavior recorded at several intervals after drug administration. At the same time, copulatory thrusting was registered using a polygraphic technique. Tests for gross motor functions were also performed. None of the drugs had any effect in these latter tests. Sodium valproate, in a dose of 100 mg/kg, had a slight inhibitory effect on sexual behavior at 280 min postinjection. A dose of 200 mg/kg inhibited sexual activity already 15 min postinjection, and the effect lasted for at least 280 min. GAG, 100 mg/k, inhibited mounting behavior at 8 h postinjection, and ejaculation was reduced from 2 to at least 8 h postinjection. Copulatory thrusting patterns were not affected by the drug treatments. These data suggest that increased GABAergic activity reduces sexual arousal in the rabbit. GABA does not seem to be critically involved in the regulation of the motor patterns underlying pelvic thrusting. There are important quantitative and qualitative differences between rats and rabbits with regard to the actions of GABA transaminase inhibitors upon sexual functions.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗

PubMed1992

Reliability of sexual behavior data among high school students in Rome.

We compared findings on sexual behavior from a self-administered questionnaire and a face-to-face interview, separated by 2-4 weeks, directed at 383 Italian secondary school students. The correlation coefficients or kappa values for reported prevalence of coital experience, age at first intercourse, and age of first partner were all greater than 0.7. The interview underreported coitus and overreported condom use, when administered before the questionnaire. The students thought that 18.4% of their classmates had ever had coitus, compared with 23.5% on self-report. We conclude that despite an overall high reproducibility of sexual behavior measures, distortions due to perceptions of social desirability might occur.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2007

Interactive Voice Response Technology applied to sexual behavior self-reports: a comparison of three methods.

We tested the feasibility and performance of the Interactive Voice Response Technology (IVR) in the assessment of sexual behavior self-reports, relative to self-administered questionnaire (SAQ) and Timeline Followback (TLFB) methods. The sample consisted of 44 sexually active Hispanic students recruited at the University of Texas at El Paso who reported daily about sexual behaviors and substance use. Thirty-three participants (75%, 18 women, 15 men) were retained for at least 80 days of the 91-day IVR. At follow-up, sexual behaviors and substance use were assessed by questionnaire (summary) reports and by TLFB, referring to the same 3-month interval. ANOVAs with normalized variables indicated less reporting in the TLFB and over-reporting of substance use in the questionnaire relative to the daily IVR self-reports. Gender moderated the effects of assessment mode, which were observed among women only. HLM analyses indicated a significant decrease in self-reports over time, suggesting reactivity of self-monitoring via IVR on behavior.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Female sexual behaviors in male rats with dorsal raphe nucleus lesions: treatment with p-chlorophenylalanine.

The effects of the serotonin-synthesis inhibitor, p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) on female sexual behaviors were examined in male rats with or without lesions (DRL) of the dorsal raphe nucleus, which contains a large number of serotonergic cell bodies. Estrogen-primed castrated males without brain surgery (control) showed extremely low levels of lordosis compared with females. On the other hand, DRL males displayed lordosis response more frequently than control males, but the lordosis quotient (LQ) in this group was lower than that in females. As well as DRL males, all PCPA-treated males showed lordosis, the mean LQ being comparable to the DRL group. Thus, the destruction of the dorsal raphe nucleus or the deprivation of serotonin by PCPA treatment facilitates manifestation of lordosis behavior in male rats. However, synergistic effect of DRL and PCPA treatments on female sexual behaviors have not been observed. The mean LQ in PCPA-treated male rats with DRL was almost the same as in DRL males or PCPA-treated males. These results suggest that the possible site of action of PCPA in regulating female sexual behavior in male rats is the serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus. Furthermore, the lordosis-facilitating effect of DRL is due to destruction of the serotonergic cell bodies in the dorsal raphe nucleus.

Animals↗