Marson L, McKenna K E
Department of Physiology, Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611.
Brain Res. 1990 May 7;515(1-2):303-8. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(90)90611-e.
It has long been assumed that the brainstem exerts a tonic descending inhibitory influence on spinal sexual reflexes, but the source of this inhibition is unknown. Sexual responses (penile erection and ejaculatory movements) were elicited in anesthetized male rats using urethral stimuli. Using brainstem transections and electrolytic and neurotoxic lesions, we have identified a group of neurons in the paragigantocellular reticular nucleus in the ventral medulla which mediates this descending inhibition. Correlative neuroanatomical studies indicate that the inhibition is mediated via a direct projection to pelvic efferent neurons and interneurons. These results promise new approaches to the treatment of human sexual disorders.
长期以来，人们一直认为脑干对脊髓性反射施加一种紧张性下行抑制作用，但这种抑制的来源尚不清楚。使用尿道刺激在麻醉的雄性大鼠中诱发性行为反应（阴茎勃起和射精动作）。通过脑干横切以及电解和神经毒性损伤，我们在延髓腹侧的巨细胞旁网状核中鉴定出一组介导这种下行抑制的神经元。相关神经解剖学研究表明，这种抑制是通过直接投射到盆部传出神经元和中间神经元来介导的。这些结果有望为治疗人类性功能障碍带来新方法。
