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Age-related changes in apomorphine-induced erections.

S Varrin¹, J P Heaton

¹Department of Urology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Neurobiology of Aging

|January 1, 1992

Summary

Aging impairs erectile function in rats. Seven-month-old rats lost responsiveness to apomorphine, a drug that previously induced erections, suggesting central nervous system changes.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Urology
Gerontology

Background:

Aging is associated with a decline in human erectile function.
Apomorphine is a dopamine agonist used to study erectile mechanisms.
Rodent models are crucial for understanding age-related physiological changes.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of aging on erectile function in rats.
To determine the age at which rats lose responsiveness to apomorphine.
To explore potential central nervous system mechanisms underlying age-related erectile dysfunction.

Main Methods:

A bioassay was used to assess erectile function and yawning behavior in rats.
Apomorphine was administered at consistent doses to rats of different ages.
Rats were tested for responsiveness to apomorphine before and after one month of aging.

Main Results:

Rats that responded to apomorphine at six months of age failed to respond at seven months.
Thirty-two seven-month-old rats, naive to apomorphine, also showed no erectile response.
Six-month-old rats reliably exhibited erections in response to apomorphine.

Conclusions:

A significant decline in erectile function occurs in rats around seven months of age.
This age-related decline may be linked to alterations in central dopamine autoreceptor function.
Central nervous system changes at approximately seven months of age render rats incapable of apomorphine-induced erections.

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