Effects of withdrawal from an escalating dose schedule of d-amphetamine on sexual behavior in the male rat

The present study sought to determine the effect of withdrawal from an escalating dose schedule of d-amphetamine on sexual behavior in male rats. Tests were conducted every 5 days until stable levels of sexual behavior were obtained. With repeated testing, male rats displayed an increase in their exploration of the testing chambers prior to the introduction of an estrous female. Half of the male rats were then subjected to a 4-day escalating dose schedule of d-amphetamine administration (1-12 mg/kg), while half received vehicle. Twelve hours after the final drug injection, subjects were tested for sexual behavior. Withdrawal from the drug was associated with decrements in several motivational components of sexual behavior, including decreased anticipatory locomotor and increased postejaculatory intervals, while consummatory measures remained largely unaffected. This pattern of sexual deficits resembles those seen in human depressive disorders, and therefore, provides additional support for the use of psychostimulant withdrawal as a rodent model of depression. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.