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Methamphetamine impairs sexual motivation but not sexual performance in male Japanese quail.

Author
Abstract
:

The present study investigated the effects of chronic pre-exposure to methamphetamine on sexual motivation and performance in male Japanese quail. Quail were pre-exposed to methamphetamine (1.0 or 3.0 mg/kg ip) or saline (ip) once daily for 10 days and locomotor activity was measured. After a 10 day washout period, sexual motivation was measured in a straight-arm runway with visual access to a female at one end. Three to 5 hr after sexual motivation tests, males were allowed to copulate with a receptive female quail and copulatory behavior was assessed. Tests were conducted once per day for 10 days. Results showed that males pre-exposed to methamphetamine had decreased locomotor activity compared to saline controls. Males pre-exposed to METH later ran slower toward a female in the runway and spent less time near her. In contrast, methamphetamine pre-exposed males showed similar copulatory behavior as saline pre-exposed males. The findings suggest that chronic pre-exposure to methamphetamine may impair sexual motivation but not sexual performance. The findings are discussed from a comparative perspective and with regard to their clinical relevance.

Year of Publication
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2009
Journal
:
Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology
Volume
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17
Issue
:
1
Number of Pages
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10-20
ISSN Number
:
1064-1297
URL
:
http://content.apa.org/journals/pha/17/1/10
DOI
:
10.1037/a0014505
Short Title
:
Exp Clin Psychopharmacol
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