# ANALYSIS OF MASCULINE BEHAVIOR

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS · 1993 · $122,259

## Abstract

This project is an examination of the mechanical and neuroendocrine causes
and effects of sexual potency in animals.  This basic research on
laboratory rats and other rodent species will promote our comparative
understanding of the mechanisms underlying sexual reflexes in males,
thereby also facilitating the use of appropriate animal models for the
study of the organic origin of human erectile dysfunction and its treatment
by pharmacological or surgical means.

Sexual reflexes will be studied within and outside the context of
copulation in three groups of studies.  In one series of experiments,
behavioral observations and electromyographic (EMG) recordings of long-term
castrated male rats will be used (a) to examine the rate of
androgen-induced restoration of activity in the two mechanical
systems--i.e., the penile vasculature and the striated penile muscles--
that are normally coordinated in generating penile responses, and (b) to
examine indirectly the relative roles of neural cytosol and membrane
hormone receptors in the early stages of response restoration by androgen.

A second group of studies uses behavioral observation, videorecording, and
EMG recording to analyze the coordination of the vascular and striated
penile muscle effector systems with each other and with the skeletal
movements characteristic of mating in rats.

In the third set of studies the mechanical and neuroendocrine effects of
penile actions in copula will be compared in laboratory mice, hamsters, and
meadow voles.  These species were selected because they differ in important
aspects of their mating behavior and female reproductive physiology from
each other and from previously studied rats.  Investigative techniques in
this group of studies include surgical and endocrine manipulation of the
penile response potential of the males, and scanning electron microscopy of
the penile glands to record the changes resulting from castration and
androgen replacement.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2196641
- **Project number:** 5R01HD008933-18
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS
- **SAM.gov UEI:** WNTPS995QBM7
- **Principal Investigator:** BENJAMIN D SACHS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $122,259
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1978-09-01 → 1995-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2196641

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2196641, ANALYSIS OF MASCULINE BEHAVIOR (5R01HD008933-18). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2196641. Licensed CC0.

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