Effects of paradoxical sleep deprivation and cocaine on genital reflexes in hyperlipidic-fed rats

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of a hyperlipidic diet (HD) on penile erection (PE) and ejaculation (EJ) induced by cocaine in paradoxical sleep deprived (PSD) rats. Secondly, we aimed to verify the influence of HD cafeteria diet on steroid hormone levels. Twenty-one day-old male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into two groups: rats fed with commercial chow diet and rats fed with a palatable HD containing chow mixed with peanuts, milk chocolate and sweet cookies in the proportion of 3 : 2 : 2 : 1. After nine weeks of treatment, the animals were submitted to PSD or maintained as home cage control group for 96 h and challenged with cocaine (7 mg/kg, ip). Results showed that the HD led to a reduction in the frequency of erection in the PSD + cocaine group when compared to the PSD + cocaine fed with standard diet. Regardless of the diet, testosterone concentrations were significantly lower and progesterone was higher in the PSD rats than in the respective home-cage control rats. Although there were no hormonal alterations, the findings showed that a long-term HD might modify the stimulating effects of cocaine in potentiating genital reflexes in PSD rats.