Urinary Acid Phosphatase Secretion Under Different Arousal Conditions

ABSTRACT Seventy‐three undergraduate males were randomly assigned to five different conditions, sexual, anxiety, aggressive, and laughter arousals and a control group, as a test of the hypothesis that urinary acid phosphatase is a specific indicator of sexual arousal. Pre‐ and post‐arousal urine samples were analyzed for the amount of urinary acid phosphatase (AP) present, and significant increases occurred only in the sexual arousal condition. Both general and specific elements of arousal as well as a possible link between sexual arousal and anxiety are discussed. These findings support earlier results of studies in this area.