Homosexuality: A dilemma in discourse.

Homosexuality has been in practice even prior to its recorded history. In the Indian cultural context, discourse on sexuality had never gained an agreeable consensus from any platform. However, in the recent past, efforts were made by governmental and nongovernmental organizations to bring sex-related issues to the masses after speculation on presumably the fast spread of AIDS (acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome) particularly through illegal homosexual activities. Nevertheless, strong cultural and religious ideologies discouraged any valid discussions on homosexuality. In light of the given scenario, the present essay aimed to highlight several aspects of homosexuality that include a brief history, biological basis, effect of nature versus nurture, evolutionary perspective and related issues concerning general well-being and health.

Brain areas activated after ejaculation in healthy young human subjects.

Brain mechanisms for the refractory period that characteristically follows ejaculation in animals and human are poorly understood. The possibility of active inhibition of brain areas being responsible for the post-ejaculatory inhibitory state has not been ruled out. Using Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) we have mapped brain areas in healthy young volunteers immediately after ejaculation. Functional imaging of the brain for 30 minutes beginning after three minutes of ejaculation induced by masturbation showed spatio-temporal activation in amygdala, temporal lobes and septal areas. The septal areas were observed to be active for a shorter duration than the amygdala and the temporal lobe. Thus the temporal sequence of involvement of the above neural structures may contribute to temporary inhibition of sexual arousal/penile erection during the post-ejaculatory refractory period in humans.

Atenolol or butoxamine injection at the lateral septum doesn't inhibit male sexual behavior in rats.

To investigate the role of specific adrenoreceptors subtypes on sexual behavior, atenolol, butoxamine, a mixture of atenolol and butoxamine, and saline (vehicle) were injected into the lateral septum in four different groups of sexually active male rats. Application of a mixture of atenolol and butoxamine produced inhibition of copulatory activity. On the other hand, application of either atenolol or butoxamine alone did not inhibit copulatory activity. But it produced stimulation of some of the components of male sexual behavior. Inability of either atenolol or butoxamine to inhibit the male sexual behavior, and inhibition of the same by the mixture of atenolol and butoxamine, indicate that both beta-adrenoreceptors at the lateral septum are involved in the elaboration of male sexual behavior. Stimulation of some components of sexual behavior on application of atenolol or butoxamine could be attributed to an unbalanced activity of beta-adrenoreceptors.