Copulatory thrusting pattern in the male rat after acute treatment with GABA transaminase inhibitors

It has previously been found that the GABA transaminase inhibitors gamma-acetylen GABA (GAG) and sodium valproate reduced intromission behavior in male rats without affecting mounting behavior. These effects were obtained, however, only in doses that also impaired motor execution. The purpose of the present study was to establish whether copulatory thrusting patterns were affected by these GABA transaminase inhibitors. Sodium valproate, 200 mg/kg, reduced the number of intromissions and the intromission rate without affecting mounting behavior. GAG, 100 mg/kg, had similar effects on sexual behavior. The only effect obtained on copulatory thrusting patterns was a small reduction in mount and intromission thrust frequency after GAG 100 mg/kg. It is unlikely that this effect is responsible for the inhibitory actions of GAG on sexual behavior, especially since sodium valproate did not modify copulatory thrusting patterns, but inhibited sexual behavior in a manner similar to that of GAG.