The Effect of Psychic-sexual Stimulation on Urinary and Serum Acid Phosphatase and Plasma Nonesterified Fatty Acids

Abstract

In an attempt to develop a quantitative chemical measure of the intensity of sexual arousal a study was made of urinary acid phosphatase secretion rate and plasma acid phosphatase levels in young men, as influenced by the viewing of a sexually arousing moving picture. In a group of 17 subjects, 12 showed an increase in urinary acid phosphatase secretion rate, but, this effect was not correlated with subjective response (as evaluated by questionnaires), nor was the enzyme response prevented by concomitant feelings of disgust or disapproval. Plasma acid phosphatase concentrations, measured in 12 subjects, did not change. In a control group of married women, significant changes in urinary acid phosphatase were not observed. Incidental observations that sexual arousal was accompanied by an increase in plasma nonesterified fatty acids were also made.