NERVOUS SYSTEM REGULATION OF GENITAL REFLEXES

描述：（改编自研究者摘要） 本研究旨在了解中枢神经系统对女性性反射的调节。 目前的建议将确定抑制和兴奋途径， 控制雌性的生殖反射大多数关于女性的研究 性功能集中在脊柱前凸反射上。但这并不 解决与性功能有关的生殖器反应。尿道生殖器 [UG]反射模型是一种脊柱性反射，包括一个集成的 交感神经、副交感神经和躯体反应， 生殖器反射可以在女性身上进行研究。使用UG观察到的反应 雌性大鼠的反射模仿人类性高潮时的反射。 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反射，并定位脊髓 在雌性的“高潮”反射中被激活的神经元。我们 假设雄性和雌性中枢神经系统对生殖反射控制相似。一 脊椎模式发生器被认为可以调节生殖器反射， 地点不明。我们将使用活性敏感标记c-fos， 定位负责调节生殖反射的脊髓神经元。生殖器 反射受到脊髓上神经元的紧张性抑制。我们将确定 脑干神经元负责介导这种抑制， 神经传递素参与其中。我们假设，在大脑中的多巴胺能神经元， 巨细胞旁核[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， 证实了这一假设，并阐明了β-肾上腺素能受体介导的 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， 调节兴奋性冲动MPOA不直接投射到脊柱 因此，兴奋性通路必须在脑干中中继。我们将 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的 关于CNS机制的组织、整合和控制的信息 与女性性功能有关关于解剖学的新信息， 调节性功能的途径的功能和化学特异性/异质性 雌性的反射能力也会增强

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.