New sexual dysfunction cure found, thanks to genital’s vibrational nerve

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

A team of researchers at Harvard Medical School has found out 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 like erectile dysfunction and help restore sexual function in individuals with lower-body paralysis.

Overcoming the taboo hurdle

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

However, due to the sensitive nature of the topic, 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 utilized advanced molecular techniques to activate and track these neurons in mice.

They used different methods like mechanical pressure and electrical impulses to stimulate these nerve cells in mice, both male and female.

Frequency of stimulation

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

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

“Humans, it seems, realized that this was the best way to stimulate Krause corpuscles before any official experiments were published,” read the study.

Surprisingly, both male and female mice were found to possess a similar number 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 heightened sensitivity.

Role of Krause corpuscles in sexual response

To pinpoint the exact role Krause corpuscles play in sexual activity, the researchers employed a technique involving genetic engineering. They modified mice so that the neurons within the corpuscles would activate in response to a flash of light rather than the usual physical stimulation.

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

Notably, stimulating this area caused erections in males and contractions in females, even when the spinal cord’s connection to the brain was severed. This suggests that these sexual reflexes are automatic and can occur even in the absence of brain input.

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

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

Significance for human health

While the study was conducted on mice, the findings have significant implications for humans. Krause corpuscles are present in both human genitals, 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 piece of work and opens a lot of different directions for a lot of scientists,”  says Elena Gracheva, a neuroscientist at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, while emphasizing the importance of the study.