NERVOUS SYSTEM REGULATION OF GENITAL REFLEXES

描述：（改编自研究者的摘要）长期目标 这项研究旨在了解中枢神经系统对女性性反射的调节。 本提案将确定抑制和兴奋途径 控制女性的生殖器反射。大部分研究对象是女性 性功能主要集中在脊柱前凸反射上。然而，这并不 解决与性功能相关的生殖器反应。尿道生殖系统 [UG] 反射模型是一种脊髓性反射，由集成的 交感神经、副交感神经和躯体反应，其中与性有关 可以在女性中研究生殖器反射。 UG 的反应 雌性大鼠的反射与人类性高潮时的反射相似。 这些研究旨在检查传出神经元通路 控制自主神经和躯体生殖器反射并定位脊髓 女性在“高潮”反射期间被激活的神经元。我们 假设男性和女性中枢神经系统对生殖器反射的控制是相似的。一个 脊髓模式发生器被认为可以调节生殖器反射，但其 位置未知。我们将使用活动敏感标记 c-fos 来 定位负责调节生殖器反射的脊髓神经元。生殖器 反射受到脊髓上神经元的强直抑制。我们将确定 脑干神经元负责介导这种抑制并表征 涉及的神经递质。我们假设血清素能神经元 巨细胞核 [nPGi] 抑制 UG 反射。我们将使用一个 结合神经解剖学、生理学和药理学技术 证实这一假设并阐明介导的血清素受体 的抑制。我们假设内侧视前区 [MPOA] 的神经元 可以启动女性生殖器反射。我们将绘制神经元和通路图 调节兴奋性驱动力。 MPOA 不直接投射到脊柱 因此，兴奋性通路必须在脑干中传递。我们会 检查 MPOA 下行通路驱动生殖器的假设 反射在导水管周围灰质传递。这些研究将提供新颖的 有关中枢神经系统机制的组织、整合和控制的信息 参与女性性功能。有关解剖学的新信息， 性调节途径的功能和化学特异性/异质性 女性的反应能力将会增强。

DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from the Investigator's Abstract) The long term goals of this research are to understand the CNS regulation of female sexual reflexes. The present proposal will identify the inhibitory and excitatory pathways that control genital reflexes in the female. The majority of research on female sexual function has focused on the lordosis reflex. However, this does not address the genital responses related to sexual function. The urethrogenital [UG] reflex model is a spinal sexual reflex comprising of an integrated sympathetic, parasympathetic and somatic response in which sexually relevant genital reflexes can be studied in females. The responses seen with the UG reflex in the female rat mimic those present during sexual climax in humans. These studies are designed to examine the efferent neuronal pathways that control autonomic and somatic genital reflexes and to localize the spinal cord neurons that are activated during 'climactic' reflexes in the female. We hypothesize that male and female CNS control of genital reflexes are similar. A spinal pattern generator is thought to regulate genital reflexes but its location is unknown. We will use the activity sensitive marker, c-fos, to localize spinal neurons responsible for regulating genital reflexes. Genital reflexes are tonically inhibited by supraspinal neurons. We will identify the brainstem neurons responsible for mediating this inhibition and characterize the neurotransmitter involved. We hypothesize that serotonergic neurons in the nucleus paragigantocellularis [nPGi] inhibit the UG reflex. We will use a combination of neuroanatomical, physiological and pharmacological techniques to confirm this hypothesis and to elucidate the serotonergic receptors mediating the inhibition. We hypothesize that neurons in the medial preoptic area [MPOA] can initiate female genital reflexes. We will map the neurons and pathways that regulate the excitatory drive. The MPOA does not project directly to the spinal cord, therefore, excitatory pathways must relay in the brainstem. We will examine the hypothesis that MPOA descending pathways that drive genital reflexes relay in the periaqueductal gray. These studies will provide novel information on the organization, integration and control of CNS mechanisms involved in female sexual function. New information concerning the anatomical, functional and chemical specificity/heterogeneity of pathways modulating sexual reflexes in the female will be gained.