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What Receptors are Involved in Sexual Arousal?

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processofmind

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Apr 9, 2012
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and for my guiding my own research so i don't sound lazy, i ask if anyone can share some information on the biochemistry of sexual arousal and addiction? what receptor subtypes are involved?
any substances that may be of help in controlling hypersexuality? its interfering with my life and career so i would ask for some help in this regard. i would like to get rid of constant distracting sexual impulsions. if i can at least control it that would be worth it for me.
 
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To put it simply, dopamine increases sexual arousal, and in some areas of the brain increases impulsive behavior, while in other areas of the brain decreases it. I do not know the specific receptor subtypes involved in these actions of dopamine, but it's probably most of them, definitely including D1 (as far as increasing sexuality and impulsivity) and D2 (as far as decreasing impulsivity when activated in the cortex).
Serotonin, on the other hand, decreases both sexual arousal (probably through 5-HT2C) and impulsivity (through 5-HT2C and probably others). 5-HT2C accomplishes this by its limiting action on dopamine release.

I would not recommend any sort of dopamine blocking agent, because of their awful and sometimes permanent side-effects. 5-HTP or an SSRI would be your best bet.
 
SSRIs will definately cause sexual dysfunction as far as preventing physical arousal, but I'm not sure what the evidence is for decreasing the cognitive aspects of sexuality which is where your problem probably lies. Anecdotally the sexual dysfunction from SSRIs can be permanent or nearly permanent in some people, but I don't have a reference for that claim at the moment.

In either case this paper has some info on sexual dysfunction caused by SSRIs you might find useful:

www.ncbi.nlm.gov/pibmed/22121997

Edit: heres a reference for the persistent effects, and it also talks about general reduction in libido besides the physical effects:

"Persistent sexual dysfunction after discontinuation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors."

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18173768
 
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so ssris are out of the question then? they cause long term sexual dysfunction

would a NRI be a good idea to take?
 
While the OP made my hard science junkie self cringe, its a really interesting topic. But, processofmind since you're new to ADD, we generally like to see some research posted in the OP or in subsequent posts. This also isn't a board for "fix my problems" so hopefully the discussion focuses more on the research side of things.

But, in terms of "selective" effects on libido melanocortin (1 in particular) receptors are the subject of a lot of research for the treatment of sexual dysfunction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bremelanotide

Or, you can go with something that has been used for ages (assuming you're a guy here) and go for a chemical castration.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_castration

Edit: fixed title, and I'd like to say that SSRI's do not always cause lingering sexual side effects. Its very dependent on the individual, and the drug in question.
 
Epsilon Alpha said:
While the OP made my hard science junkie self cringe, its a really interesting topic. But, processofmind since you're new to ADD, we generally like to see some research posted in the OP or in subsequent posts. This also isn't a board for "fix my problems" so hopefully the discussion focuses more on the research side of things.

But, in terms of "selective" effects on libido melanocortin (1 in particular) receptors are the subject of a lot of research for the treatment of sexual dysfunction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bremelanotide

Or, you can go with something that has been used for ages (assuming you're a guy here) and go for a chemical castration.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_castration

Edit: fixed title, and I'd like to say that SSRI's do not always cause lingering sexual side effects. Its very dependent on the individual, and the drug in question.
Click to expand...

sorry about that, what exactly made you cringe?
i will link some of my own research, and well its too comlex for me currently to understand, i dont want to permanently ruin my libido but my current libido is uncontrollable,, its really not what i want. it doesnt feel pleasurable either

im not a expert in these subjects but have slight grasp on the terminology.

central mechanisms of sexual function:
http://www.bumc.bu.edu/sexualmedicine/publications/the-central-mechanisms-of-sexual-function/
Role of Arginase in the Male and Female Sexual Arousal Response1,2:
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/134/10/2873S.full
http://yourbrainonporn.com/central-peripheral-mechanisms-of-penile-erection
The endocrinology of sexual arousal:
http://joe.endocrinology-journals.org/content/186/3/411.full
Dopamine and serotonin: influences on male sexual behavior:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15488546
Dopamine and oxytocin
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17164075?dopt=Abstract
Perspective: sex matters: gonadal steroids and the brain:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19136977
A role for the melanocortin 4 receptor in sexual function:
http://www.pnas.org/content/99/17/11381.abstract
neurobiology of human sexuality:
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro02/web2/tromero.html
Oxytocin receptor density is associated with male mating tactics:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22285648
Dopamine agonist-induced penile erection and yawning: Differential role of D(2)-like receptor subtypes and correlation with nitric oxide production in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus of male rats:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22391116
Delay of ejaculation induced by SB-277011, a selective dopamine D3 receptor antagonist, in the rat:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19207271
Brain mechanisms of male sexual function:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21899000
sexual reward:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22402996
Neuropeptides and sexual behaviour:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10643821
CNS arousal mechanisms bearing on sex and other biologically regulated behaviors.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16769096
http://www.infoisus.com/naturalheal...ity_of_life_blog/2006/05/histamine_and_s.html

i really dont know how to go about this i thought some kind of a 5ht agonist and antagonist would be promising
 
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Hey, good to see you're doing some of your own research :)
I cringed because there are a lot of people who come on here with poor grammar and nothing scientific in the OP, then make a giant "help me with depression/cfs/extracting dxm" plea. Good to see you're not one of them!

Well if you want something indirect and fairly common, most opioids do induce erectile dysfunction or sexual dysfunction in new users. Might be worth looking at that alley.
 
Epsilon Alpha said:
Hey, good to see you're doing some of your own research :)
I cringed because there are a lot of people who come on here with poor grammar and nothing scientific in the OP, then make a giant "help me with depression/cfs/extracting dxm" plea. Good to see you're not one of them!

Well if you want something indirect and fairly common, most opioids do induce erectile dysfunction or sexual dysfunction in new users. Might be worth looking at that alley.
Click to expand...

well like i said im not too well versed in the science of the biology, but i feel i have a sexual addiction and it really hurts my functionality in life.

would i get addicted to the opoids? im not sure if thats a good alternative but i will look into it, im kind of worried on the opoids, as its a iffy area for me. but they might have some inhibitory mechanism in sexual function so who knows, have to read up on that
 
endotropic said:
SSRIs will definately cause sexual dysfunction as far as preventing physical arousal, but I'm not sure what the evidence is for decreasing the cognitive aspects of sexuality which is where your problem probably lies. Anecdotally the sexual dysfunction from SSRIs can be permanent or nearly permanent in some people, but I don't have a reference for that claim at the moment.

In either case this paper has some info on sexual dysfunction caused by SSRIs you might find useful:

www.ncbi.nlm.gov/pibmed/22121997

Edit: heres a reference for the persistent effects, and it also talks about general reduction in libido besides the physical effects:

"Persistent sexual dysfunction after discontinuation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors."

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18173768
Click to expand...

SSRIs are known to decrease *all* aspects of sexual function, including physical reactions, sensory experience, and cognitive desire. In any case, I don't think that sexual dysfunction is the issue here, and I especially doubt that persistent sexual dysfunction would be an issue if you titrate to a dose that achieves exactly the level of control that you want, because diminished sex drive will never *increase* with discontinuation.
But, if it still worries you, I think 5-HTP is not known for permanent effects on the sex drive, though effects lasting the duration of use are present, anecdotally.


processofmind said:
sorry about that, what exactly made you cringe?
i will link some of my own research, and well its too comlex for me currently to understand, i dont want to permanently ruin my libido but my current libido is uncontrollable,, its really not what i want. it doesnt feel pleasurable either

im not a expert in these subjects but have slight grasp on the terminology.

[HUGE LIST OF RELEVANT STUDIES]

i really dont know how to go about this i thought some kind of a 5ht agonist and antagonist would be promising
Click to expand...

Holy shit. Welcome to ADD.

Note that the physical aspects of sexual arousal do not necessarily correlate with the cognitive ones. Amphetamine is a good example of this.

Perhaps ritalin? Yes, it's a stimulant, but it is known to decrease sex drive, at least sometimes, with chronic dosage, and certainly to decrease impulsivity. If I recall correctly, it did somewhat diminish my 15 year old self's sex drive (quite a feat haha). The thing that strikes me is that you say it's not even pleasurable, which leads me to think that it's more of an issue with impulsivity than sex drive itself.
 
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thanks for the replys, i don't know if ritalin would be a ideal thing for this but will look into it. I think a ssri shouldnt cause harm as long its not used for indefinate periods of time.

the only way i can describe my situation is i constantly have to masturbate everyday, and even when i dont the thoughts overide my focus on everything else. i constantly get the addiction to masturbation and i feel no pleasure from it, same with sex, its like a mechanical process for eternity. it ruined my relationship with a lot of people, with women i never cared about their experience and most of the time only about satisfying myself.

i did post many studies, but i have not completely read everyone of them. that is going to take a while to go through and form a plan in regards to all the complexity involved. im sure there is much more to be added to the above studies,
 
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This is a good question, and one I'm not entirely sure of. DAT/NETs strongly diminish my sex drive in general... I've yet to really find one that enhances sexual arousal.

Heavy doses of finasteride, dutasterone, spironolactone or cyproterone will suppress your sex drive, but the quantity which it will is variable and individual dependent.
 
atrollappears said:
Yes, as a psychostimulant it certainly can also increase sex drive. I bet, actually, that any diminishing effect on sex drive is secondary to its effects on attention/impulsivity.
Click to expand...
is that dose dependent?

im going to go try a vasoconstrictor as i heard that may be effective, with an ssri. i will try out nicotine or cirazoline. i will try methylene blue also. I would rather not overtly suppress hormones, but i would diminish them to low safe levels if necessary. I think something that can modulate or down regulate the various dopamine receptors would be ideal for this.
 
processofmind said:
is that dose dependent?

im going to go try a vasoconstrictor as i heard that may be effective, with an ssri. i will try out nicotine or cirazoline. i will try methylene blue also. I would rather not overtly suppress hormones, but i would diminish them to low safe levels if necessary. I think something that can modulate or down regulate the various dopamine receptors would be ideal for this.
Click to expand...

Yeah it's dose dependent. SSRIs are probably a better bet though.
Also, DO NOT combine methylene blue with an SSRI. That's begging for serotonin syndrome.
 
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