Huperzia saururus Lam. trevis. (Lycopodiaceae) facilitates ejaculation in spinal cord transected male rats

M.A BIRRI, ; M.A FRANCO, ; M.G VALLEJO,; M. CARRO-JUÁREZ,; A.M AGNESE,

JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 157 p. 38 - 38

0378-8741

thnopharmacological relevance Huperzia saururus (Lam.) Trevis. has an extensive ethnopharmacological use, mainly because of its aphrodisiac properties. The species is consumed as decoctions or infusions in traditional medicine. The purpose of the present research was to determine if H. saururus is able to increase sexual potency by evaluating the ejaculatory response, in the presence of a decoction in spinal cord transected male rats. Materials and methods The fictive ejaculation model to record the rhythmic contractions of the bulbospongiosus muscles that accompany ejaculation as an indicator of ejaculation occurrence was used. Sexually experienced male Wistar rats were used. The activation of the fictive ejaculation by the i.v. administration of a decoction was tested, as well as the effects of the oxytocinergic, cholinergic, adrenergic and nitrergic antagonism upon the pro-ejaculatory activity of H. saururus. Results Decoction (3 µg/animal) was able to activate the fictive