Inhibitory and disinhibitory effects of psychomotor stimulants and depressants on the sexual behavior of male and female rats
Abstract
Drugs of abuse comprise several pharmacological classes, including psychomotor stimulants, such as amphetamine and cocaine, and CNS depressants, such as morphine and alcohol. Few studies have examined the effects of those drugs systematically on human sexual behavior, although substantial clinical and epidemiological literatures suggest that drugs in both classes either inhibit sexual responding or can be "prosexual" in certain situations, thereby increasing the potential of risky sexual activity and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. This paper reviews original data in rats showing that both classes of drug inhibit or disinhibit sexual behavior depending on the animal's baseline level of sexual responding, hormonal status, whether the drug is given acutely or chronically, and whether the animal has learned to inhibit sexual responding toward nonreceptive partners or in the presence of conditioned olfactory cues that predict sexual nonreward.
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Use of drugs such as methamphetamine, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, gamma-butyrolactone, and alkyl nitrites ("poppers") to facilitate sexual activity or enhance pleasure (chemsex) may lead to uncontrolled and risky sexual behavior due to their disinhibitory actions on brain dopamine turnover.
“Clinicians should be aware that the use of drugs such as methamphetamine, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, gamma-butyrolactone, and alkyl nitrites (“poppers”) to facilitate engagement in sexual activity or to enhance pleasure from it, described as “chemsex,” may also lead to uncontrolled and risky sexual behavior124 given their common disinhibitory actions on brain dopamine turnover.125”
From Assessment and treatment of compulsive sexual behavior disorder: a sexual medicine perspective (2024) · cites this paper as [125]
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References 136 · Cited by 63
- Authors
- Pfaus, J. G., Wilkins, M. F., DiPietro, N., Benibgui, M., Toledano, R., Rowe, A., & Couch, M. C.
- Affiliations
- Concordia University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Pfaus, James G.
- ORCID
- Pfaus, James G.
- Venue
- Hormones and Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-06
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 163-176
- ISSN
- 0018-506X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1964739820
- Cited by
- 63
- References
- 136
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Hormones and Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r21da011898-02)
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (74563_1)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R21 DA11898-0)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Keywords
- psychostimulants, central nervous system depressants, sexual behavior, amphetamine, cocaine, morphine, alcohol, disinhibition, hormonal status, chronic drug exposure, sexually transmitted infections, rats
- MeSH terms
- Central Nervous System Stimulants, Animals, Central Nervous System Depressants, Female, Humans, Male, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Rats
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