Variables affecting "spontaneous" seminal emission in rats

The frequency of spontaneous seminal emission (SE) by isolated rats (X = 2.05 +/- 0.64/day) was not increased when estrous females were housed in adjacent cages. Coital ejaculation during mating tests temporarily inhibited the production of SE, and inhibition was more marked after 5 than after 1 ejaculation with a female. Males experiencing only 1 coital ejaculation tended to resume production of SE somewhat sooner if they were exposed to stimuli from estrous females than if such stimuli were lacking. The possible functional significance of spontaneous and self-induced noncoital seminal emission which is common in a variety of mammals is discussed.