Haake Philip, Krueger Tillmann H C, Goebel Marion U, Heberling Katharina M, Hartmann Uwe, Schedlowski Manfred
Department of Medical Psychology, University Clinic of Essen, Essen, Germany.
Neuroimmunomodulation. 2004;11(5):293-8. doi: 10.1159/000079409.
Sexual arousal and orgasm induce an increase in sympathetic activity as well as in catecholamine and prolactin plasma concentrations. However, the effects of sexual arousal and orgasm on immune functions in man are unknown. Thus, this study investigated the effects of masturbation-induced orgasm on lymphocyte circulation and cytokine production in healthy young males.
In a crossover design, 11 volunteers completed an experimental condition in which they were asked to masturbate until orgasm and to participate in a control condition without sexual activity. Blood was drawn continuously for determination of endocrine parameters. In addition, leukocyte and lymphocyte subsets were analyzed via flow cytometry, and the production of lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha was measured before and then 5 and 45 min after the orgasm.
The results confirmed transient increases in adrenaline and prolactin plasma concentrations. Sexual arousal and orgasm increased the absolute number of leukocytes, in particular natural killer cells (CD3-CD16+CD56+), in the peripheral blood. In contrast, T cell (CD3+) and B cell (CD3-CD20+) subpopulations as well as the production of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosins factor alpha remained unaffected by sexual activity.
These findings demonstrate that components of the innate immune system are activated by sexual arousal and orgasm.
性唤起和性高潮会导致交感神经活动以及血浆中儿茶酚胺和催乳素浓度增加。然而，性唤起和性高潮对男性免疫功能的影响尚不清楚。因此，本研究调查了手淫诱导的性高潮对健康年轻男性淋巴细胞循环和细胞因子产生的影响。
采用交叉设计，11名志愿者完成了一个实验条件，即要求他们手淫直至达到性高潮，并参与一个没有性活动的对照条件。连续抽取血液以测定内分泌参数。此外，通过流式细胞术分析白细胞和淋巴细胞亚群，并在性高潮前、性高潮后5分钟和45分钟测量脂多糖诱导的白细胞介素6和肿瘤坏死因子α的产生。
结果证实了血浆中肾上腺素和催乳素浓度的短暂升高。性唤起和性高潮增加了外周血中白细胞的绝对数量，特别是自然杀伤细胞（CD3-CD16+CD56+）。相比之下，T细胞（CD3+）和B细胞（CD3-CD20+）亚群以及白细胞介素6和肿瘤坏死因子α的产生不受性活动的影响。
这些发现表明，先天性免疫系统的组成部分会被性唤起和性高潮激活。
