New cure for sexual dysfunction is found, thanks to the vibratory nerve of the genital organ

A recent study has revealed that specific nerve cells, known as Krause corpuscles located in the penis and clitoris, play a crucial role in sexual behavior.

A team of researchers at Harvard Medical School has discovered that these cells detect 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 individuals with lower-body paralysis.

Overcoming the taboo barrier

Krause clusters, first discovered more than 150 years ago, are similar in structure to touch-activated corpuscles found in fingers and hands. These bodies respond to vibrations as the skin moves across a textured surface.

However, due to the sensitive nature of the subject, their role in sexual function has remained largely unexplored.

“It’s been hard to get people to work on this because some people have a hard time talking 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 different methods such as mechanical pressure and electrical impulses to stimulate these nerve cells in both male and female mice.

Frequency of stimulation

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

Interestingly, Ginty noted that this frequency range happens to be the same one that is often used in various sex toys designed for humans.

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

Surprisingly, both male and female rats were found to possess similar numbers of Krause corpuscles.

However, the study found that the clitoris has 15 times the concentration of Krause corpuscles compared to the penis due to its smaller size. This increased density may explain why the clitoris shows increased sensitivity.

The role of Krause corpuscles in sexual response

To pinpoint the role Krause’s bodies play in sexual activity, the researchers used a technique involving genetic engineering. They modified the mice so that the neurons within the corpuscles activated in response to a flash of light instead of the usual physical stimulation.

Activation of these neurons in anesthetized rats induced sexual reflexes in both male and female rats. The researchers then discovered that Krause corpuscles are associated with a specific area of ​​the spinal cord.

Notably, stimulation of this area caused erections in men and contractions in women, even when the connection between the spinal cord and the brain was severed. This suggests that these sexual reflexes are automatic and can occur even in the absence of brain input.

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

The study’s findings also shed light on the development of Krause corpuscles, revealing that they mature shortly before the mice reach sexual maturity. This suggests a possible link between hormonal changes during puberty and the development of these nerve cells.

Importance for human health

While the study was conducted in mice, the findings have important implications for humans. Krause clusters are present in both human genitalia, and their structure and function are believed to be similar to those in mice.

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

“It’s a very comprehensive work and it opens up many different directions for many scientists,” says Elena Gracheva, a neuroscientist at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, while emphasizing the importance of the study.