Effect of two brain serotonin depletors on the sexual behavior of male rats.

We tested the effects of p-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA) and p-bromomethylamphetamine (V 111) on the homosexual and heterosexual behavior of male rats. We found that the two compounds affect differently the sexual behavior of sexually active, sluggish and inactive males. pCPA and chronic V 111 treatment stimulate the sexual activity in sexually sluggish males. In sexually inactive males only pCPA proved to be effective. The situation is similar in inducing homosexual behavior. In sexually active males pCPA does not increase the number of ejaculations. Acute V 111 treatment inhibits the copulatory behavior in sexually active males but a tolerance develops to this inhibitory effect. We concluded that V 111 acts on the serotonergic system in other way than pCPA does.