Relationship between ethanol intake and sexual function in rats / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between the intake of ethanol and sexual function of rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups the control, 10% , 20% , 30% and 40 ethanol groups, which received. . 9% sodium chloride, 10% , 20% , 30% and 40% ethanol solutions respectively at a dose of 2 ml through gastric tubes once a day. Three months later, we observed the effects of ethanol on the sexual function of the rats by their sexual behaviors, the number of apomorphine-induced penile erections, and the content of testosterone in the serum and nitric oxide synthase ( NOS) in the penis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the number of apomorphine-induced penile erections in the 10% and 20% ethanol groups was not inhibited significantly (P > 0.05), but the latent period of mounting and intromission in the 10% ethanol group was prolonged and the sexual behaviors in the 20% ethanol group were inhibited except the latent period of ejaculation. The sexual behaviors and the number of apomorphine-induced penile erections of the 30% and 40% ethanol groups were inhibited significantly (P < 0.05). Testosterone in the serum and NOS activity in the penis of the experimental groups were reduced (Pat < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>An adequate volume of ethanol does not induce sexual dysfunction in rats, but long term and excessive intake of ethanol may cause penile erectile dysfunction.</p>