Sexually dimorphic gastrin releasing peptide system in the spinal cord controls male reproductive functions.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Sakamoto H
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3954789 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Sexually dimorphic gastrin releasing peptide system in the spinal cord controls male reproductive functions.
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
Nature neuroscience 20080518 6
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 d ...[more]
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