A new cure for sexual dysfunction has been found thanks to the vibratory nerve of the genitals

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

A team of researchers from Harvard Medical School discovered that these cells detect vibrations and trigger responses such as erections and vaginal contractions.

The discovery could pave the way for new treatments for conditions such as erectile dysfunction and help restore sexual function in individuals with lower-body paralysis.

Overcoming a taboo obstacle

First discovered more than 150 years ago, Krause blood cells have a similar structure to touch-activated blood cells on fingers and hands. These blood cells respond to vibrations as the skin moves over 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 it because some people have trouble talking about it,” said David Ginty, a sensory neurobiologist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass., who led the team.

To overcome this hurdle, Ginty and other sensory biologists used advanced molecular techniques to activate and monitor these neurons in mice.

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

Frequency of stimulation

The team found that the neurons in Krause’s blood cells became active when exposed to low-frequency vibrations, specifically in the 40 to 80 hertz range.

Interestingly, Ginty pointed out that this frequency range happens to be the same one that is often used in various human sex toys.

“It seems that people realized that this was the best way to stimulate Krause’s blood cells before any official experiments were published,” the study says.

Surprisingly, both male and female mice were found to have similar numbers of Krause blood cells.

However, the study found that the clitoris has a 15 times higher concentration of Krause blood cells compared to the penis due to its smaller size. This increased density may explain why the clitoris exhibits increased sensitivity.

The role of Krause blood cells in the sexual response

To determine the exact role that Krause’s blood cells play in sexual activity, the researchers used a technique involving genetic engineering. They engineered the mice so that the neurons in the blood cells fire in response to a flash of light rather than the usual physical stimulation.

Activation of these neurons in anesthetized mice triggered sexual reflexes in both male and female mice. Subsequently, scientists discovered that Krause’s blood cells are associated with a specific area of ​​the spinal cord.

Remarkably, stimulation of this area produced erections in men and contractions in women, even though the connection between the spinal cord and 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 the brain and genitalia.

The study’s findings also shed light on the development of Krause’s blood cells, revealing that they mature just before the 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 cells are present in both human genitalia and their structure and function are probably similar to those of mice.

The researchers therefore 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 work and it opens up many different directions for many scientists,” says Elena Gracheva, a neuroscientist at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, while emphasizing the importance of the study.