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Brief Communication

Nature Neuroscience 11, 634–636 (1 June 2008) | doi:10.1038/nn.2126

Sexually dimorphic gastrin releasing peptide system in the spinal cord controls male reproductive functions

Hirotaka Sakamoto , Ken-Ichi Matsuda , Damian G Zuloaga , Hisayuki Hongu , Etsuko Wada , Keiji Wada , Cynthia L Jordan , S Marc Breedlove & Mitsuhiro Kawata

Neurons in the upper lumbar spinal cord project axons containing gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) to innervate lower lumbar regions controlling erection and ejaculation. This system is vestigial in female rats and in males with genetic dysfunction of androgen receptors, but in male rats, pharmacological stimulation of spinal GRP receptors restores penile reflexes and ejaculation after castration.