From the Guidelines
Cocaine increases sexual activity in quails, as it has been observed to enhance libido and reduce inhibitions in various animal studies, including those involving birds [ 1 ].
Key Effects of Cocaine on Quail Sexual Behavior
- Increased mounting and copulation behaviors have been associated with cocaine exposure in animal studies, although the specific effects can vary depending on factors such as dose and duration of exposure [ 1 ].
- The use of cocaine in quails or any other animals is strictly limited to scientific research with appropriate ethical approvals and safeguards in place, due to its potential for harm and addiction [ 1 ].
- Typically, doses of 1-10 mg/kg have been used in animal studies to examine the effects of cocaine on behavior, but the specific dose and duration of exposure can impact the observed effects on sexual behavior [ 1 ].
- It is essential to note that cocaine is a controlled substance and should only be handled by trained professionals in a controlled laboratory setting [ 1 ].
Important Considerations
- Cocaine use in animals should be strictly limited to scientific research with appropriate ethical approvals and safeguards in place, due to its potential for harm and addiction [ 1 ].
- Trained professionals should only handle cocaine in a controlled laboratory setting [ 1 ].
From the Research
Effect of Cocaine on Sexual Behavior of Quails
- The incentive-sensitization theory suggests that drug addiction results from altered learning and motivational processes that stem from drug-induced changes in the brain's reward circuitry 2.
- Studies have shown that cocaine preexposure enhances sexual conditioning and increases resistance to extinction in male Japanese quail 2, 3.
- Cocaine dose-dependently enhances sexually conditioned approach behavior and copulation in male quail 2.
- Preexposure to cocaine delays extinction of sexually conditioned behavior, suggesting that cocaine may increase the strength of sexual conditioning 2.
- State-dependent learning effects of cocaine have been observed in male Japanese quail, where cocaine-induced state-dependent learning effects were investigated using a sexual conditioning paradigm 3.
- Repeated exposure to cocaine during sexual activity may increase sexual motivation, which may lead to high-risk sexual activities 3.
- Cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization and conditioning have been observed in male Japanese quail, where repeated intermittent cocaine treatment results in behavioral sensitization or an augmented response to cocaine 4.
- Cocaine induces conditioned place preference and increases locomotor activity in male Japanese quail, suggesting that drug-reward processes may be highly conserved across species 5.
Sex Differences in Cocaine-Induced Behaviors
- Sex differences in cocaine-induced behaviors are well established, with females showing enhanced locomotion to cocaine over multiple trials compared with males 6.
- In female quail, cocaine does not increase locomotion regardless of increased estradiol, and a higher D2:D1 dopamine receptor ratio in quail compared with rodents may explain this sex and species difference 6.
- D2 receptor antagonism enhances cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization in female, but not male Japanese quail, suggesting that the D2 receptor likely mediates cocaine's motor stimulating effects in quail 6.