PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Krause corpuscles, which were discovered in the 1850s, are specialized sensory structures found within the genitalia and other mucocutaneous tissues1-4. The physiological properties and functions of Krause corpuscles have remained unclear since their discovery. Here we report the anatomical and physiological properties of Krause corpuscles of the mouse clitoris and penis and their roles in sexual behaviour. We observed a high density of Krause corpuscles in the clitoris compared with the penis. Using mouse genetic tools, we identified two distinct somatosensory neuron subtypes that innervate Krause corpuscles of both the clitoris and penis and project to a unique sensory terminal region of the spinal cord. In vivo electrophysiology and calcium imaging experiments showed that both Krause corpuscle afferent types are A-fibre rapid-adapting low-threshold mechanoreceptors, optimally tuned to dynamic, light-touch and mechanical vibrations (40-80 Hz) applied to the clitoris or penis. Functionally, selective optogenetic activation of Krause corpuscle afferent terminals evoked penile erection in male mice and vaginal contraction in female mice, while genetic ablation of Krause corpuscles impaired intromission and ejaculation of males and reduced sexual receptivity of females. Thus, Krause corpuscles of the clitoris and penis are highly sensitive mechanical vibration detectors that mediate sexually dimorphic mating behaviours.
摘要：
克劳斯血球，这是在19世纪50年代发现的，是在生殖器和其他皮肤粘膜组织中发现的特殊感觉结构1-4。自发现以来，克劳斯小体的生理特性和功能仍不清楚。在这里，我们报告了小鼠阴蒂和阴茎的克劳斯小体的解剖和生理特性及其在性行为中的作用。与阴茎相比，我们在阴蒂观察到高密度的克劳斯小体。使用小鼠遗传工具，我们确定了两种不同的体感神经元亚型，它们支配阴蒂和阴茎的克劳斯小体，并投射到脊髓独特的感觉末端区域。体内电生理和钙成像实验表明，两种Krause小体传入类型均为A纤维快速适应低阈值机械感受器，最佳地调整到动态，轻微的触摸和机械振动（40-80赫兹）施加到阴蒂或阴茎。功能上,Krause小体传入末端的选择性光遗传学激活诱发雄性小鼠阴茎勃起和雌性小鼠阴道收缩，而Krause小体的遗传消融会损害男性的内渗和射精，并降低女性的性接受能力。因此，阴蒂和阴茎的克劳斯小体是高度敏感的机械振动探测器，可介导性二态交配行为。
