Effect of kisspeptin-10 on sexual activity in male rats after exposure to restraint stress

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunctions are of high social significance, and their steady growth necessitates the search for new pharmacological targets for correction. Mental stress is a trigger of decreased sexual activity. Previously, the effect of predator presentation stress on sexual motivation of male rats was established, which manifested itself in a decrease in exploratory activity toward female rats in estrus. The neuropeptide kisspeptin regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal system and is involved in the modulation of sexual behavior. AIM: This works aimed to assess the effect of kisspeptin-10 introduced centrally and peripherally on sexual behavior of rats after restraint stress. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were exposed to restraint stress. To assess sexual behavior, a male rat was placed in a cage with a female rat in estrus. The latency time to approach the female and the number of mounts per female within 3 minutes were recorded. RESULTS: The latency time for approaching female rats in stressed animals increased by 1.3 times (p 0.01) compared to intact controls. After intranasal introduction of kisspeptin-10, the latency time decreased by 1.4 times compared to the control group (p 0.05) and by 1.8 times compared to the stressed group without drug introduction (p 0.001). After a single intraperitoneal introduction of kisspeptin-10, the latency time decreased by 2 times compared to the control group (p 0.01) and by 2.6 times compared to the stressed group without drug introduction (p 0.001). After a course of intranasal introduction of kisspeptin-10, the latency time decreased by 2.4 times compared to the control group (p 0.01) and by 3 times compared to the stressed group without drug introduction (p 0.001). After a course of intraperitoneal introduction of kisspeptin-10, the latency time decreased by 2 times (p 0.05) compared to the control group and by 2.4 times compared to the stressed group without drug introduction (p 0.01). After a single intraperitoneal introduction of kisspeptin-10, the number of mounts per female increased by 3.3 times compared to the control group (p 0.001) and by 3 times compared to the stressed group without drug introduction (p 0.01). After a course of intraperitoneal introduction of kisspeptin-10, the number of mounts per female increased by 3.7 times compared to the control group (p 0.001) and by 3.3 times compared to the stressed group without drug introduction (p 0.01). CONCLUSION: Kisspeptin-10 enhances sexual activity in male rats after restraint stress. Intranasal and intraperitoneal drug introduction triggers a reduced latency time of approaching a female rat. After intraperitoneal introduction, the number of mounts per female increases.