Abstract

This project will examine the biological basis of age-related changes in human sexuality, with a particular emphasis on hormonal factors. Attempts will be made to correlate hormonal changes during menopause and after in women, and during aging in men, with specific aspects of change in sexual function. Double blind placebo crossover experiments will be performed in postmenopausal women to examine the roles of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone in the causation and correction of post-menopausal sexual dysfunction. Earlier findings that testosterone contributed to a small but significant extent in the sexual decline of aging men will be followed up in two main directions of research: In replacement therapy experiments attempts will be made to determine if the sensitivity of men to the sexual effects of androgen changes with age. Second, the goal of understanding the behavioral mechanism of action of androgen will be pursued. Psychophysiological tests will be utilized to measure responses during sexual arousal of men and women, produced by erotic film and fantasy. Specific examination of possible changes in systems will include assessment of tactile sensitivity thresholds and somatosensory evoked potentials with varying hormone levels and age.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG001437-07
Application #
3114203
Study Section
Reproductive Biology Study Section (REB)
Project Start
1979-09-01
Project End
1987-11-30
Budget Start
1985-12-01
Budget End
1987-11-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Stanford University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771545
City
Stanford
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94305

  Publications

Morrissette, D L; Goldstein, M K; Raskin, D B et al. (1999) Finger and penile tactile sensitivity in sexually functional and dysfunctional diabetic men. Diabetologia 42:336-42
Smith, E R; Kacker, S R; Raskin, A et al. (1996) Central propranolol and pindolol, but not atenolol nor metoprolol, inhibit sexual behavior in male rats. Physiol Behav 59:241-6
Smith, E R; Stoker, D; Kueny, T et al. (1995) The inhibition of sexual behavior in male rats by propranolol is stereoselective. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 51:439-42
Smith, E R; Cetrulo, E J; Donahue, J P et al. (1995) The inhibitory effects of propranolol on genital reflexes in male rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 52:541-6
Carmichael, M S; Warburton, V L; Dixen, J et al. (1994) Relationships among cardiovascular, muscular, and oxytocin responses during human sexual activity. Arch Sex Behav 23:59-79
Morrissette, D L; Skinner, M H; Hoffman, B B et al. (1993) Effects of antihypertensive drugs atenolol and nifedipine on sexual function in older men: a placebo-controlled, crossover study. Arch Sex Behav 22:99-109
Smith, E R; Stefanick, M L; Clark, J T et al. (1992) Hormones and sexual behavior in relationship to aging in male rats. Horm Behav 26:110-35
Smith, E R; Maurice, J; Richardson, R et al. (1990) Effects of four beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists on male rat sexual behavior. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 36:713-7
Smith, E R; Davidson, J M (1990) Yohimbine attenuates aging-induced sexual deficiencies in male rats. Physiol Behav 47:631-4
Clark, J T; Smith, E R (1990) Clonidine suppresses copulatory behavior and erectile reflexes in male rats: lack of effect of naloxone pretreatment. Neuroendocrinology 51:357-64

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