Monoaminergic influences on temporal patterning of sexual behavior in male rats.

We evaluated the effects of the serotonin (5-HT) presynaptic uptake blocker fluoxetine (FLX) and the dopamine (DA)/noradrenaline (NE) releaser amantadine (AMA), separately and in combination, on the temporal patterning of male rat sexual behavior. FLX alone increased intermount-bout intervals, time-outs, grooming time, ejaculation latency, number of mounts per mount bout, and number of mount bouts per ejaculation. AMA alone had the opposite effect on these measures. Additionally, AMA, when given in combination with FLX, completely reversed the FLX-induced deficits in copulatory behavior. We interpret our results as suggesting an interaction between 5-HT and catecholamines in the temporal patterning of male rat copulatory behavior.