Sexual behavior and copulatory thrusting patterns in male rabbits treated with GABA transaminase inhibitors

The effects of enhanced central nervous system GABA levels on sexual behavior and copulatory pelvic thrusting were evaluated in male New Zealand white rabbits. The GABA transaminase inhibitors sodium valproate and gamma-acetylen GABA (GAG), in doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg and 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively, were intraperitoneally administered and sexual behavior recorded at several intervals after drug administration. At the same time, copulatory thrusting was registered using a polygraphic technique. Tests for gross motor functions were also performed. None of the drugs had any effect in these latter tests. Sodium valproate, in a dose of 100 mg/kg, had a slight inhibitory effect on sexual behavior at 280 min postinjection. A dose of 200 mg/kg inhibited sexual activity already 15 min postinjection, and the effect lasted for at least 280 min. GAG, 100 mg/k, inhibited mounting behavior at 8 h postinjection, and ejaculation was reduced from 2 to at least 8 h postinjection. Copulatory thrusting patterns were not affected by the drug treatments. These data suggest that increased GABAergic activity reduces sexual arousal in the rabbit. GABA does not seem to be critically involved in the regulation of the motor patterns underlying pelvic thrusting. There are important quantitative and qualitative differences between rats and rabbits with regard to the actions of GABA transaminase inhibitors upon sexual functions.