Individual prolactin reactivity modulates response of nucleus accumbens to erotic stimuli during acute cannabis intoxication: an fMRI pilot study

Rationale Self-report studies indicate that cannabis could increase sexual desire in some users. We hypothesized that intoxication increases activation of brain areas responsive to visual erotica, which could be useful in the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder, a condition marked by a la...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Psychopharmacology Vol. 234; no. 13; pp. 1933 - 1943
Main Authors:	Androvicova, R., Horacek, J., Tintera, J., Hlinka, J., Rydlo, J., Jezova, D., Balikova, M., Hlozek, T., Miksatkova, P., Kuchar, M., Roman, M., Tomicek, P., Tyls, F., Viktorinova, M., Palenicek, T.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-07-2017 Springer Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Activation Activation analysis Amphetamines Animal reproduction Biomedical and Life Sciences Biomedicine Blood Brain Brain - physiology Brain mapping Cannabidiol - blood Cannabidiol - chemistry Cannabinoids Cannabis Cannabis - metabolism Cannabis - toxicity Care and treatment Dronabinol - blood Dronabinol - chemistry Drug abuse Drug Combinations Erotica Functional magnetic resonance imaging Humans Hydrocortisone - blood Hypnotics and Sedatives Hypoactive sexual desire disorder Intoxication Libido - ethics Libido - physiology Magnetic Resonance Imaging Marijuana Methods Neuropsychology Neurosciences Nucleus Accumbens Original Investigation Pharmacology/Toxicology Physiological aspects Pictures Pilot Projects Prolactin Prolactin - blood Psychiatry Serum levels Sexual excitement Visual stimuli Nucleus accumbens fMRI Cannabis Dopamine Prolactin Cortisol Hypoactive sexual desire Hypothalamus
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Summary:	Rationale Self-report studies indicate that cannabis could increase sexual desire in some users. We hypothesized that intoxication increases activation of brain areas responsive to visual erotica, which could be useful in the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder, a condition marked by a lack of sexual desire. Objectives The aim of this study is to assess the aphrodisiacal properties of cannabis. Methods We conducted an open-randomized study with 21 heterosexual casual cannabis users. A 3T MRI was used to measure brain activation in response to erotic pictures. Blood samples were collected to determine the serum levels of cannabinoids, cortisol and prolactin. Participants were grouped according to whether they had ever experienced any aphrodisiacal effects during intoxication (Group A) or not (Group non-A). Results Intoxication was found to significantly increase activation in the right nucleus accumbens in the Group A while significantly decreasing activation in the Group non-A. There was also a significant interaction between the group and intoxication, with elevated prolactin in the Group non-A during intoxication. No intoxication-related differences in subjective picture evaluations were found. Conclusion Cannabis intoxication increases activation of the right nucleus accumbens to erotic stimuli. This effect is limited to users whose prolactin is not elevated in response to intoxication. This effect may be useful in the treatment of low sexual desire.
ISSN:	0033-3158 1432-2072
DOI:	10.1007/s00213-017-4601-1