Skip to main content
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
. 1988 Dec;26(6):733–739. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1988.tb05312.x

Assessment of erectogenic properties of apomorphine and yohimbine in man.

P Danjou 1, L Alexandre 1, D Warot 1, L Lacomblez 1, A J Puech 1
PMCID: PMC1386588  PMID: 3242578

Abstract

1. In a four period, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, apomorphine (0.009 mg kg-1 subcutaneous route) and yohimbine (0.30 mg kg-1 i.v. route) were administered to 10 male healthy volunteers. Penile circumference was monitored using plethysmography and subjective sexual arousal was self-assessed. Data were collected before, during and after a stimulation session during which 50 erotic slides were projected to the subjects. 2. Apomorphine induced an erection starting from the fourth minute post-injection, and potentiated the visually-induced response. Self assessment showed increased tumescence and rigidity without modifications of sexual arousal. 3. Yohimbine did not modify penile diameter without stimulation and did not affect the physiological response to erotic stimuli. 'Sexual excitement' was decreased by yohimbine during the post-stimulation phase. One subject experienced severe anxiety while he was infused with yohimbine. 4. These results are discussed with reference to animal data and to recent studies carried out in impotent patients.

Full text

PDF
733

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Barlow D. H., Sakheim D. K., Beck J. G. Anxiety increases sexual arousal. J Abnorm Psychol. 1983 Feb;92(1):49–54. doi: 10.1037//0021-843x.92.1.49. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Berendsen H. H., Gower A. J. Opiate-androgen interactions in drug-induced yawning and penile erections in the rat. Neuroendocrinology. 1986;42(3):185–190. doi: 10.1159/000124438. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Charney D. S., Heninger G. R. Alpha 2-adrenergic and opiate receptor blockade. Synergistic effects on anxiety in healthy subjects. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1986 Nov;43(11):1037–1041. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1986.01800110023004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Clark J. T., Smith E. R., Davidson J. M. Enhancement of sexual motivation in male rats by yohimbine. Science. 1984 Aug 24;225(4664):847–849. doi: 10.1126/science.6474156. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Clark J. T., Smith E. R., Davidson J. M. Evidence for the modulation of sexual behavior by alpha-adrenoceptors in male rats. Neuroendocrinology. 1985 Jul;41(1):36–43. doi: 10.1159/000124151. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Clark J. T., Smith E. R., Davidson J. M. Testosterone is not required for the enhancement of sexual motivation by yohimbine. Physiol Behav. 1985 Oct;35(4):517–521. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(85)90133-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Ferrari F., Baggio G., Mangiafico V. The dopamine autoreceptor agonist B-HT 920 markedly stimulates sexual behavior in male rats. Experientia. 1985 May 15;41(5):636–638. doi: 10.1007/BF02007696. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Foreman M. M., Hall J. L. Effects of D2-dopaminergic receptor stimulation on male rat sexual behavior. J Neural Transm. 1987;68(3-4):153–170. doi: 10.1007/BF02098495. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Goldstein J. A. Erectile function and naltrexone. Ann Intern Med. 1986 Nov;105(5):799–799. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-105-5-799_1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Gorman J. M., Askanazi J., Liebowitz M. R., Fyer A. J., Stein J., Kinney J. M., Klein D. F. Response to hyperventilation in a group of patients with panic disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 1984 Jul;141(7):857–861. doi: 10.1176/ajp.141.7.857. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. HOLMBERG G., GERSHON S. Autonomic and psychic effects of yohimbine hydrochloride. Psychopharmacologia. 1961;2:93–106. doi: 10.1007/BF00592678. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. HOLMBERG G., GERSHON S., BECK L. H. Yohimbine as an autonomic test drug. Nature. 1962 Mar 31;193:1313–1314. doi: 10.1038/1931313b0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Julien E., Over R. Male sexual arousal with repeated exposure to erotic stimuli. Arch Sex Behav. 1984 Jun;13(3):211–222. doi: 10.1007/BF01541648. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Lal S., Ackman D., Thavundayil J. X., Kiely M. E., Etienne P. Effect of apomorphine, a dopamine receptor agonist, on penile tumescence in normal subjects. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1984;8(4-6):695–699. doi: 10.1016/0278-5846(84)90040-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Lal S., Grassino A., Thavundayil J. X., Dubrovsky B. A simple method for the study of yawning in man induced by the dopamine receptor agonist, apomorphine. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1987;11(2-3):223–228. doi: 10.1016/0278-5846(87)90064-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Lal S., Laryea E., Thavundayil J. X., Nair N. P., Negrete J., Ackman D., Blundell P., Gardiner R. J. Apomorphine-induced penile tumescence in impotent patients--preliminary findings. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1987;11(2-3):235–242. doi: 10.1016/0278-5846(87)90066-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Margolis R., Prieto P., Stein L., Chinn S. Statistical summary of 10,000 male cases using Afrodex in treatment of impotence. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 1971 Sep;13(9):616–622. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Morales A., Condra M., Owen J. A., Surridge D. H., Fenemore J., Harris C. Is yohimbine effective in the treatment of organic impotence? Results of a controlled trial. J Urol. 1987 Jun;137(6):1168–1172. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)44436-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Morales A., Surridge D. H., Marshall P. G., Fenemore J. Nonhormonal pharmacological treatment of organic impotence. J Urol. 1982 Jul;128(1):45–47. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)52749-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Onrot J., Goldberg M. R., Biaggioni I., Wiley R. G., Hollister A. S., Robertson D. Oral yohimbine in human autonomic failure. Neurology. 1987 Feb;37(2):215–220. doi: 10.1212/wnl.37.2.215. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Reid K., Surridge D. H., Morales A., Condra M., Harris C., Owen J., Fenemore J. Double-blind trial of yohimbine in treatment of psychogenic impotence. Lancet. 1987 Aug 22;2(8556):421–423. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(87)90958-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. SCHACHTER S., SINGER J. E. Cognitive, social, and physiological determinants of emotional state. Psychol Rev. 1962 Sep;69:379–399. doi: 10.1037/h0046234. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Smith E. R., Lee R. L., Schnur S. L., Davidson J. M. Alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists and male sexual behavior: I. Mating behavior. Physiol Behav. 1987;41(1):7–14. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(87)90123-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Smith E. R., Lee R. L., Schnur S. L., Davidson J. M. Alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists and male sexual behavior: II. Erectile and ejaculatory reflexes. Physiol Behav. 1987;41(1):15–19. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(87)90124-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology are provided here courtesy of British Pharmacological Society

RESOURCES