SPINAL PROCESSING OF THE ERECTILE RESPONSE

Neurons from the PVN run down through the mid-brain, and at this level the nucleus paragigantocellularis can interrupt proerectile signals from higher brain regions if it becomes inappropriate to have an erectile response, this is mediated through a serotinergic mechanism although the receptor subtypes involved are not fully elucidated. (Marson and McKenna, 1990 and 1992).Once through the mid-brain, the erectile signals pass along the spinal cord to the periphery. In addition to transmitting neural signals, the spinal cord has an integrative role of processing signals from peripheral and higher central regions. There are two main sites of integration for erectile function in the spinal cord, the sacral erection spinal centre from S2 to S4 and a thoracic-based centre from T11 to L2,

(Giuliano et al., 1995). Erectile signals leave the CNS at these two centers, and the information is then transferred through autonomic neurons to the periphery.