SEXUAL BEHAVIOR AND HORMONES IN AGING

本研究计划的长期目标是确定 这些因素导致或与下降有关， 伴随老年的性活动。 我们的研究重点是 关于性行为的减少和伴随的 衰老恒河猴内分泌环境研究 可能有助于理解性功能的下降， 包括人类在内的灵长类动物的行为。在一个 随着人口老龄化的不断加剧，需要进行这样的研究。 变得越来越重要 我们的研究是实验性的， 跨学科，包括定量评估 环境操纵后的行为终点，以及 荷尔蒙变量 我们的具体目标是确定：（1） 在多大程度上操纵环境条件， 社会环境和性伴侣可以改变性行为 在老年男性的表现，因此允许我们评估 性功能下降的程度取决于 心理变量（2）下降的程度， 性行为与大脑的能力有关 老年男性的垂体性腺系统，因为该系统控制着 调节性表现的激素环境， 生殖功能（3）性行为的具体变化 随着时间的推移与血清激素的相关变化 水平，以及如果以及在什么水平上性行为达到了一个 在很老的时候渐近线 老年恒河猴雄性（18-28岁） 我们监测了他们的性表现和激素水平 自1970年以来，为我们提供了一个独特的机会， 性行为的生理和心理相关因素， 非人类灵长类动物的老龄化

The-long term objectives of this research program are to identify those factors that cause or are associated with the decline in sexual activity that accompanies old age. Our research is focused on the decline in sexual behavior and accompanying changes in the hormonal milieu of aging rhesus macaques for what that research may contribute to an understanding of the decline in sexual behavior of aging primates, including man. In a society whose population is steadily growing older, the need for such research grows in importance. Our research is experimental, interdisciplinary, and includes the quantitative assessment of behavioral endpoints following manipulation of environmental, and hormonal variables. Our specific aims are to determine: (1) the extent to which manipulation of environmental conditions such as the social situation and sexual partner can modify sexual performance in old males and hence permit us to assess the degree to which the decline in sexual performance is dependent upon psychological variables (2) the extent to which the decline in sexual performance is related to the competency of the brain- pituitary-gonadal system in old males as that system governs the hormonal environment modulating sexual performance and reproductive function (3) the specific changes in sexual behavior that occur over time with associated changes in serum hormone levels, and if and at what level sexual behavior reaches an asymptote in very old age. Old rhesus males (18-28 years old) whose sexual performance and hormone levels we have monitored since 1970 provide us with a unique opportunity to determine the physiological and psychological correlates of sexual behavior in an aging population of nonhuman primates.