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ROLE OF ANDROGENS IN FEMALE PHYSIOLOGICAL SEXUAL AROUSAL RESPONSE
Dr.
Abdulmaged M. Traish and Dr.Noel N. Kim.
Departments of Biochemistry and Urology, Boston University School
of Medicine, Boston MA 02118
Female genital sexual arousal response is a complex neurovascular
process involving smooth muscle relaxation of the genital arteries,
as well as other genital tissues such as clitoral and labial erectile
tissue and vaginal muscularis, resulting in increased genital blood
flow, engorgement and increased genital sensation and vaginal lubrication.
The cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for genital arousal
encompass interactions between neurotransmitters, vasoactive substances
and sex steroid hormones. Androgens play a critical role in the
development and maintenance of vaginal tissue structure. Clinical
studies have demonstrated that surgically postmenopausal women who
received adequate estrogen-treatment and testosterone supplementation
not only showed significant improvement in the domain of sexual
desire but also in the arousal response. Our work focused on the
understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which
androgens regulate genital responses to sexual stimulation. Experiments
in animal model have suggested that androgens maintain the structural
integrity of the vaginal nerve fiber network, and the muscularis.
Furthermore, androgens differentially regulate the expression and
activities of nitric oxide synthase and arginase in the proximal
and distal vagina. Androgens also mediate increased vaginal blood
flow by androgen receptor-dependent mechanisms and modulate vaginal
mucification. We suggest that androgens play an important role not
only in the domain of sexual desire but also in maintaining the
structural and functional integrity of the genital organs which
are critical for genital sexual arousal.
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