Neuroscience letters
-
Neuroscience letters · Mar 1999
Erectile function in male rats after lesions in the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus.
In previous research on rats, lesions of the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus (LPGi) in the medulla have facilitated the display of reflexive erection and ejaculation. The present research sought to replicate and extend these findings by determining whether LPGi lesions would also promote erection during copulation and during exposure of the male to inaccessible females, i.e. non-contact erections (NCEs). ⋯ However, the lesions did not change the copulatory intromission ratio, a partial measure of erectile function, nor did they change the incidence, latency, or number of NCEs displayed. More direct measures of erection will be necessary to determine whether the inhibitory role of LPGi on sexual reflexes is absent in some erectile contexts, or whether its role in some contexts is too small to be evident in behavioral measures.
-
Neuroscience letters · Mar 1999
Gabapentin prevents hyperalgesia during the formalin test in diabetic rats.
The anticonvulsant agent gabapentin exhibits antihyperalgesic properties in animal models of neuropathic pain. Diabetic rats display increased nocifensive behavior during the formalin test of persistent chemical irritation to the paw, suggesting the presence of abnormal pain processing mechanisms. We therefore, investigated the efficacy of gabapentin on formalin-evoked behavior in diabetic rats. ⋯ When 0.5% formalin was used, diabetic rats exhibited increased flinching during both the quiescent phase and phase 2. Gabapentin was without effect in controls but suppressed (P < 0.01) the increased flinching in diabetic rats. Gabapentin displays efficacy against abnormal sensory processing in diabetic rats and may be of benefit for treating painful diabetic neuropathy.