Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

[Neural control of erection].

Olivier Rampin1

  • 1Analyse et Modélisation en Imagerie Biologique, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France. rampin@jouy.inra.fr

Journal De La Societe De Biologie
|January 25, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Penile erection involves sacral parasympathetic pathways, while sympathetic pathways are anti-erectile. Spinal cord networks integrate signals for erection, with potential therapeutic strategies targeting neuropeptides for erectile dysfunction.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Adaptation of eating behaviour to reduced dietary protein intake in rats: influence of the amount of protein and amino acid composition in the diet.

Physiology & behavior·2025
Same author

Protein valuation is positively associated with habitual intake of protein of animal origin in a sample of French adults.

Appetite·2025
Same author

Rats chirp with their mouth full: During an experimental meal, adult male Wistar rats emitted flat ultrasonic vocalisations upon feeding.

Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience·2023
Same author

Dopamine Modulates the Processing of Food Odour in the Ventral Striatum.

Biomedicines·2022
Same author

Diet Protein Content and Individual Phenotype Affect Food Intake and Protein Appetence in Rats.

The Journal of nutrition·2021
Same author

Massive transient damage of the olfactory epithelium associated with infection of sustentacular cells by SARS-CoV-2 in golden Syrian hamsters.

Brain, behavior, and immunity·2020

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology

Context:

  • Penile erection is a complex physiological process regulated by neural pathways originating in the spinal cord.
  • Both peripheral sensory input and supra-spinal signals converge on spinal neurons to modulate erectile function.

Purpose:

  • To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying penile erection.
  • To explore the roles of different spinal pathways (parasympathetic, sympathetic, pudendal) in regulating erectile function.
  • To investigate the influence of supra-spinal centers and neurotransmitters on the spinal pro-erectile network.

Summary:

  • Activation of sacral parasympathetic pathways initiates erection via vasorelaxant neurotransmitters, while sympathetic pathways inhibit it.
  • The spinal cord integrates peripheral and supra-spinal information to regulate the pro-erectile network.
  • Premotor neurons in the brainstem and diencephalon, influenced by genital sensory information, project to spinal motoneurons.
  • Descending pathways release various neurotransmitters affecting the spinal pro-erectile network, with neuropeptides like oxytocin showing potential for treating erectile dysfunction.

Impact:

  • Understanding these pathways is crucial for developing targeted therapies for erectile dysfunction.
  • Identifies neuropeptides as potential therapeutic agents for central-acting treatments for erectile dysfunction.

Related Experiment Videos