Role of Krause corpuscles in sexual behavior of mice examined in more detail

A team of neurobiologists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute has taken a closer look at Krause corpuscles and discovered more about their role in the sexual behavior of mice. In their study, published in the journal NatureThe group analyzed the nerve structure in both the penis and the clitoris of mice.

Anastasia-Maria Zavitsanou and Ishmail Abdus-Saboor of Columbia University published a News and Views article in the same journal issue that provides an overview of the sensory corpuscles of the genitalia and the work on this new research project.

As Zavitsanou and Abdus-Saboor note, the sense of touch relies on the activation of nerves embedded in the skin. Previous research has shown that there are a variety of sensory corpuscles in the genitals of humans and many other animals, including mice, although little research has explored how they function and the role they play in sexual behavior.

The Krause corpuscle is a structure containing clusters of neurons found in the skin of the genitals of humans and mice. It is known to play a role in the perception of touch and vibration. In this new project, the research team wanted to learn more about its structure and behavior when stimulated.

Upon closer inspection of several samples of the structures in male and female mice, the researchers found that although they had different shapes, they were all encased in Schwann cells and connective tissue. They found that the consistency of the Schwann cells was such that they allowed the neurons to move easily when the skin was touched or shaken.

They also discovered two subtypes of the structures present in the skin of the penis and clitoris. And they found that although the neurons had one endpoint in the blood cell, the other end connected to the spinal cord at a different location than the other skin sensory nerves – namely, near the “spinal ejaculatory generator.”

The team also tested the responsiveness of the neurons in the Krause corpuscles by using a tool that vibrated at different frequencies. They found that the strongest responses occurred at 40–80 hertz. Finally, they found that the density of Krause corpuscles in the clitoris was about 15 times higher than in the penis.