Facilitation of ejaculation induced by 8-OH-DPAT does not produce conditioned place preference in male rats

Abstract

The serotonin 1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) produces a drastic facilitation of ejaculation characterized by a significant reduction in the number of pre-ejaculatory intromissions and a shortening of ejaculation latency. In the present study, the authors evaluated whether this facilitation of ejaculation can induce a reward state assessed by conditioned place preference. Males treated with 0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg of 8-OH-DPAT showed a clear facilitation of ejaculation but did not develop conditioned place preference. These results clearly indicate that the pharmacological facilitation of ejaculation and the reduction of the number of intromissions does not necessarily make sex rewarding.