Neuroleptics induce penile erection in the rabbit.

1. Intramuscular (i.m.) administration of the neuroleptics chlorpromazine, haloperidol and spiperone at doses ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 mg/kg in male rabbits induced a dose-dependent penile erection. 2. The i.m. administration of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists prazosin and bunazosin (0.1-0.4 mg/kg), induced a dose-dependent penile erection. However, that of the peripheral dopamine receptor antagonist domperidone (0.4-4.0 mg/kg) and the dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) did not. Penile erection was not induced by i.m. injection of chlorpromazine in combination with intrapenile administration of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine. 3. Penile erection was induced by the administration of chlorpromazine (0.25-1.00 mg/body) into the lateral cerebral ventricle. At a low dose, however, the administration of chlorpromazine into the lateral ventricle induced a less notable penile erection than that induced intramuscularly. 4. Penile erection was induced by i.m. injection of the ganglionic blocker hexamethonium (5-20 mg/kg). When chlorpromazine was given after pretreatment with hexamethonium, penile erection was more notable than that induced by either drug given alone. 5. These results suggest that neuroleptics could act locally in the penile structure to cause penile erection by alpha 1-adrenoceptor-blocking actions.