Effects of LHRH on Copulatory Behavior and Locomotor Activity in Sexually Inexperienced Male Rats

Abstract

To determine whether luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) contributes to the sexual behavior and locomotor activity of sexually inexperienced male rats, subcutaneous injections of LHRH (500 ng) were given to males. The males showed significant facilitation of a few aspects of sexual behavior 2h after LHRH injection, compared with saline-injected controls. However, the locomotor activity of males injected with LHRH showed no significant change. These results may indicate that LHRH mechanisms play a direct role in the normal regulation of sexual arousal of male behavior in rats.