Spinal neurons involved in the control of the seminal vesicles: A transsynaptic labeling study using pseudorabies virus in rats

Sun, Xun; Xu, Chengfu; Leclerc, P.; Galand, Benoît; Giuliano, François; Droupy, S.

doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.10.008

Cited by 33 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Neuroanatomical tracing studies were performed to describe the spinal ejaculation circuitry. It was demonstrated that LSt neurons project to sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons innervating the prostate and seminal vesicles (Xu et al, 2005;Sun et al, 2009). Moreover, connections between LSt and motor neurons of the dorsomedial nucleus innervating the bulbospongiosus muscles have been reported (Xu et al, 2005).…”

Section: B Spinal Cord Regulationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Pharmacology for the Treatment of Premature Ejaculation

Giuliano

Clément

2012

Pharmacol Rev

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Section: B Spinal Cord Regulationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Pharmacology for the Treatment of Premature Ejaculation

Giuliano

Clément

2012

Pharmacol Rev

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“…In contrast, other components of male sexual behavior remain intact, suggesting that this population of LSt neurons plays an important role in generation of ejaculation and is part of a spinal ejaculation generator (Truitt and Coolen, 2002). Furthermore, these LSt neurons convey the sexual information to the thalamus (Ju et al, 1987; Truitt et al, 2003), and integrate the information within the neural connections between LSt and autonomic/somatic centers in the spinal cord (Xu et al, 2005, 2006; Sun et al, 2009). However, the central and molecular mechanisms, including the neuropeptides involved, that directly regulate erection and ejaculation remain unclear.…”

Section: Lumbar Spinothalamic (Lst) Neuronsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexually dimorphic nuclei in the spinal cord control male sexual functions

Sakamoto

2014

Front. Neurosci.

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Lower spinal cord injuries frequently cause sexual dysfunction in men, including erectile dysfunction and an ejaculation disorder. This indicates that the important neural centers for male sexual function are located within the lower spinal cord. It is interesting that the lumbar spinal segments contain several neural circuits, showing a clear sexually dimorphism that, in association with neural circuits of the thoracic and sacral spinal cord, are critical in expressing penile reflexes during sexual behavior. To date, many sex differences in the spinal cord have been discovered. Interestingly, most of these are male dominant. Substantial evidence of sexually dimorphic neural circuits in the spinal cord have been reported in many animal models, but major issues remain unknown. For example, it is not known how the different circuits cooperatively function during male sexual behavior. In this review, therefore, the anatomical and functional significance of the sexually dimorphic nuclei in the spinal cord corresponding to the expression of male sexual behavior is discussed.

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“…A sexually dimorphic spinal cord system of GRP-containing neurons in the upper lumbar spinal cord ''ejaculation center'' projects axons to both the autonomic (sacral parasympathetic nucleus, SPN) and somatic (spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus, SNB) centers of the lower lumbar spinal cord that mediate penile reflexes and trigger ejaculation. AR androgen receptor, GRP-R GRP receptor (Truitt et al 2003;Ju et al 1987), and connections have been confirmed between LSt neurons and autonomic neurons projecting to the prostate or the seminal vesicle and the bulbocavernosus muscle at the thoraco-lumbar level and at the lower lumbar level (Xu et al 2005(Xu et al , 2006Sun et al 2009a). In terms of neuropeptides, however, scientists do not fully understand the central molecular mechanisms that directly trigger ejaculation or erection.…”

Section: Local Neuronal Circuits In the Lumbar Spinal Cord Controllinmentioning

confidence: 99%

The gastrin-releasing peptide system in the spinal cord mediates masculine sexual function

Sakamoto

2010

Anat Sci Int

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The lumbar spinal segments are of particular interest because they are sexually dimorphic and contain several neuronal circuits that are important in eliciting male sexual responses such as erection and ejaculation. Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is a member of the bombesin-like peptide family first isolated from the porcine stomach. A collection of neurons in the lumbar spinal cord (L3-L4 level) of male rats projects to the lower lumbar spinal cord (L5-L6 level), releasing GRP onto somatic and autonomic centers known to regulate male sexual reflexes. All these target neurons express and localize specific receptors for GRP. This system of GRP neurons is sexually dimorphic, being prominent in male rats but vestigial in females. The system is completely feminine in genetically XY rats with a dysfunctional androgen receptor gene, demonstrating the androgen-dependent nature of the dimorphism. Pharmacological stimulation of GRP receptors in this spinal region remarkably restores sexual reflexes in castrated male rats. Exposure of male rats to a severe traumatic stress decreases the local content and the axonal distribution of GRP in the lumbar spinal cord and results in an attenuation of penile reflexes in vivo. Administration of a specific agonist for GRP receptors restores penile reflexes in the traumatic stress-exposed male rats. This review summarizes findings on this recently identified spinal GRP system, which may be vulnerable to stress, that controls male reproductive function. The identification of a male-specific neuronal system regulating sexual functions offers new avenues for potential therapeutic approaches to masculine reproductive dysfunction.

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Spinal neurons involved in the control of the seminal vesicles: A transsynaptic labeling study using pseudorabies virus in rats

Cited by 33 publications

References 61 publications

Pharmacology for the Treatment of Premature Ejaculation

Pharmacology for the Treatment of Premature Ejaculation

Sexually dimorphic nuclei in the spinal cord control male sexual functions

The gastrin-releasing peptide system in the spinal cord mediates masculine sexual function

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