The role of the bulbocavernosus in penile reflex behavior in rats.
The sexually dimorphic spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) innervates the bulbocavernosus (BC) and levator ani (LA), striated perineal muscles. By transecting the pudendal nerve just proximal to the BC muscle, we removed spinal input to both muscles while leaving them mechanically intact. Such denervation of the BC/LA muscles virtually eliminated the display of reflexive penile cups, while having no significant effect on penile erections, or flips.
Monaghan
E P
EP
Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
Breedlove
S M
SM
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology; D010413:Penis / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology