Neural Regulation of Ejaculation

射精的神经调节

• 批准号: 7024456
• 负责人: Lique M Coolen
• 金额: $ 29.7万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-03-01 至 2008-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7024456
• 关键词: behavioral /social science research tag; impotence; laboratory rat; male; neurochemistry; neuroregulation; sex behavior; spinal cord mapping; spinal reflex

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Male sexual behavior is a complex behavior consisting of several different components. The mechanisms underlying erectile and ejaculatory function has been subject of investigation in many species, including man. However, the central control of ejaculation remains poorly understood. It is well established that ejaculation is a reflex and the central components necessary to complete this reflex are located in the lumbosacral spinal cord. This spinal ejaculatory neural system is under descending influence from supraspinal centers. However, ejaculatory reflexes remain intact when supraspinal inputs are interrupted, suggesting the existence of a spinal ejaculation generator. Until recently, the precise anatomical location and neurochemical identity of neurons that comprise the ejaculation generator has been unknown. Recently, we provided evidence that a population of lumbar spinothalamic (LSt) neurons plays a pivotal role in generation of ejaculatory behavior, suggesting that these cells form a critical component of the ejaculation generator. Moreover, preliminary data indicates that LSt cells have additional characteristics consistent with their role as a component of an ejaculation generator. In particular, these cells receive sensory inputs related to the onset of ejaculation and in turn project to preganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons in the lumbosacral spinal cord that mediate components of ejaculation. Thus, LSt cells appear to be in the position to integrate and coordinate inputs during sexual activity and outputs needed to trigger ejaculation. These discoveries provide, for the first time, a rich target for investigating the neural organization of ejaculation. In the current proposal we propose multidisciplinary studies utilizing neuroanatomical, physiological, pharmacological, and behavioral techniques, to further investigate the mating related inputs to LSt cells (Specific Aim 1), the efferent outputs of LSt cells (Specific Aim 2), and the sources of supraspinal influence on LSt neurons (Specific Aim 3). These studies will provide further insight into the spinal mechanisms involved in control of the ejaculatory reflex. Detailed understanding of a spinal ejaculation generator will significantly benefit treatment of sexual dysfunction, in particular related to ejaculation. Moreover, these studies will provide novel insights into the mechanisms regulating coordination of sensory, autonomic, and motor systems in the spinal cord.

描述（由申请人提供）：男性性行为是由几个不同组成部分组成的复杂行为。在包括人在内的许多物种中，勃起和射精功能的基础机制已受到研究。但是，射精的核心控制仍然很少理解。可以很好地确定射精是一种反射，完成此反射所需的中央组件位于腰脊中。这种脊柱射精神经系统受到脊柱上心的降临的影响。但是，当上脊髓输入中断时，射精反射仍然完整，表明存在脊柱射精发生器。直到最近，构成射精发生器的神经元的精确解剖位置和神经化学身份尚不清楚。最近，我们提供了证据表明，腰脊柱丘脑（LST）神经元在射精行为的产生中起着关键作用，表明这些细胞构成了射精发生器的关键成分。此外，初步数据表明，LST细胞具有额外的特征，与它们作为射精发生器的组成部分一致。特别是，这些细胞接收到与射精发作有关的感觉输入，进而在腰椎脊髓中介导射精成分的腰椎脊髓中的前交感神经和副交感神经元。因此，LST细胞似乎可以在性活动期间整合和协调输入，并触发射精所需的输出。这些发现首次为研究射精神经组织提供了丰富的目标。在当前的建议中，我们提出了利用神经解剖学，生理，药理学和行为技术的多学科研究，以进一步研究与LST细胞的交配相关输入（特定的目标1），LST细胞的传递输出（特定的AIM 2）以及对LST神经元的超级影响源（特定的AIM 2）（特定的AIM 2）。这些研究将进一步了解控制射精反射的脊柱机制。对脊柱射精发生器的详细了解将显着受益于性功能障碍的治疗，特别是与射精有关。此外，这些研究将提供有关调节脊髓感觉，自主和运动系统协调的机制的新见解。