Sexually dimorphic gastrin releasing peptide system in the spinal cord controls male reproductive functions.

Full Abstract

Neurons in the upper lumbar spinal cord project axons containing gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) to innervate lower lumbar regions controlling erection and ejaculation. This system is vestigial in female rats and in males with genetic dysfunction of androgen receptors, but in male rats, pharmacological stimulation of spinal GRP receptors restores penile reflexes and ejaculation after castration. GRP offers new avenues for understanding potential therapeutic approaches to masculine reproductive dysfunction.

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Author information

Author/s: Sakamoto, Hirotaka (H); Matsuda, Ken-Ichi (K); Zuloaga, Damian G (DG); Hongu, Hisayuki (H); Wada, Etsuko (E); Wada, Keiji (K); Jordan, Cynthia L (CL); Breedlove, S Marc (SM); Kawata, Mitsuhiro (M);

Affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan. hsakamo(-atsign-)koto.kpu-m.ac.jp

Grants: NS28421 (Agency:United States NINDS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Nature neuroscience (Nat Neurosci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jun; vol 11 (issue 6) : pp 634-6

Dates: Created 2008/05/28; Completed 2008/08/13;

PMID: 18488022, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome - genetics
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Bombesin - analogs & derivatives; pharmacology
Castration - methods
Cholera Toxin - metabolism
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Ejaculation - drug effects; physiology
Female
Gastrin-Releasing Peptide - pharmacology; physiology
Horseradish Peroxidase - metabolism
Male
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I - metabolism

Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I - metabolism
Penile Erection - drug effects; physiology
Peptide Fragments - pharmacology
Protein Binding - drug effects
Rats
Rats, Long-Evans
Rats, Mutant Strains
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Reaction Time - drug effects; physiology
Receptors, Androgen - genetics
Sex Characteristics
Spinal Cord - metabolism
Testosterone - metabolism

Associated Chemicals: Peptide Fragments (0) ; Receptors, Androgen (0) ; cholera toxin, B subunit-horseradish peroxidase (0) ; bombesin (6-14), Tpi(6)-Leu(13)-psi(CH2NH)-Leu(14)- (138147-78-1) ; Bombesin (31362-50-2) ; Testosterone (58-22-0) ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide (80043-53-4) ; Cholera Toxin (9012-63-9) ; Horseradish Peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.-) ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I (EC 1.14.13.39)

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