New cure for sexual dysfunction found thanks to vibration nerve in the genital area

A recent study has shown that certain nerve cells, called Krause corpuscles, which are located on the penis and clitoris, play a crucial role in sexual behavior.

A team of researchers at Harvard Medical School discovered that these cells sense vibrations and trigger responses such as erections and vaginal contractions.

This discovery could pave the way for new treatments for conditions such as erectile dysfunction and help restore sexual function in people with lower body paralysis.

Overcoming the taboo hurdle

Krause corpuscles were first discovered over 150 years ago. Their structure is similar to the touch-activated corpuscles on fingers and hands. These corpuscles respond to vibrations when the skin slides over a textured surface.

However, due to the sensitivity of the topic, their role in sexual function has remained largely unexplored.

“It was difficult to get people to work on this because some people find it difficult to talk about it,” said David Ginty, a sensory neurobiologist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, who led the team.

To overcome this hurdle, Ginty and other sensory biologists used advanced molecular techniques to activate and track these neurons in mice.

They used various methods such as mechanical pressure and electrical impulses to stimulate these nerve cells in male and female mice.

Stimulation frequency

The team found that the neurons in the Krause corpuscles became active when exposed to low-frequency vibrations, particularly in the range of 40 to 80 hertz.

Interestingly, Ginty pointed out that this frequency range happens to be the same one commonly used in various sex toys designed for humans.

“People apparently realized that this was the best way to stimulate Krause corpuscles before any official experiments were published,” the study says.

Surprisingly, it turned out that both male and female mice had a similar number of Krause bodies.

However, the study found that because of its smaller size, the clitoris has a concentration of Krause corpuscles 15 times higher than the penis. This increased density may explain why the clitoris has increased sensitivity.

Role of Krause corpuscles in sexual response

To determine the exact role of Krause’s corpuscles in sexual activity, the researchers used a genetic engineering technique. They modified mice so that the neurons in the Krause’s corpuscles were activated by a flash of light rather than by physical stimulation as is usual.

Activating these neurons in anesthetized mice triggered sexual reflexes in male and female mice. The researchers then discovered that the Krause corpuscles are connected to a specific area of ​​the spinal cord.

Remarkably, stimulation of this area caused erections in men and contractions in women even when the spinal cord’s connection to the brain was interrupted, suggesting that these sexual reflexes are automatic and can occur even without brain input.

This finding may be particularly important for people with spinal cord injuries who may have lost the connection between the brain and the sex organs.

The results of the study also shed light on the development of Krause corpuscles: They show that they mature shortly before the mice reach sexual maturity. This suggests a possible connection between hormonal changes during puberty and the development of these nerve cells.

Significance for human health

Although the study was conducted on mice, the results have significant implications for humans. Krause’s corpuscles are present in both human genitalia and their structure and function are thought to be similar to those in mice.

Therefore, the researchers believe their findings could pave the way for new treatments for various sexual dysfunctions, such as erectile dysfunction and vaginal pain.

“It is a very comprehensive work that opens up new avenues for many scientists,” says Elena Gracheva, a neuroscientist at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, emphasizing the importance of the study.