Psychopharmacology

, Volume 97, Issue 3, pp 383–387 | Cite as

Oxytocin-induced penile erection and yawning in male rats: effect of neonatal monosodium glutamate and hypophysectomy

  • A. Argiolas
  • M. R. Melis
  • A. Mauri
  • G. L. Gessa
Original Investigations
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Penile erection and yawning induced by the intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of oxytocin (10–1000 ng) was studied in hypophysectomized rats and in rats neonatally treated with monosodium glutamate (MSG), a treatment that depletes hypothalamic opiomelanocorticotropinderived peptides without altering their pituitary and circulating concentration. Oxytocin effect was strongly reduced by hypophysectomy, but not by neonatal MSG. Testosterone replacement (50 μ/kg/day for 23 days) partially reversed the effect of hypophysectomy on penile erection, but not on yawning. The present results suggest that oxytocin does not induce penile erection and yawning by releasing an ACTH-derived peptide from hypothalamic opiomelanotropinergic neurons, and that the pituitary gland exerts a permissive role on the expression of the above behavioural responses induced by oxytocin.

Key words

Penile erection Yawning Hypophysectomy Monosodium glutamate Oxytocin Rat 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1989

Authors and Affiliations

  • A. Argiolas
    • 1
  • M. R. Melis
    • 1
  • A. Mauri
    • 1
  • G. L. Gessa
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of CalgiariCagliariItaly

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