脑磁共振成像技术在探讨中枢性勃起机制中的研究进展

Brain magnetic resonance imaging in exploring the central neurophysiological mechanisms of penile erection: Progress in studies

既往研究发现阴茎勃起不仅依赖于周围神经和血管系统,而且受控于大脑。大脑中存在分别负责促进勃起与抑制勃起的区域。脑功能研究发现,接受性刺激时大脑不同脑区可出现功能的激活或灭活;同时,结构研究也发现ED患者大脑中的灰质结构发生萎缩和白质纤维连接出现紊乱。另外,对心理性ED患者的研究中发现,其大脑中与情绪、认知网络及默认和突显网络连接发生紊乱。为深入了解人类大脑在阴茎勃起功能中的生理机制,以及控制阴茎勃起的神经环路,本文将对基于脑磁共振成像技术研究阴茎勃起功能中枢性神机制的研究进行综述。

Previous studies have found that penile erection is not only dependent on the peripheral nervous and vascular systems, but also controlled by the central nervous system. Some brain regions are responsible for promoting and suppressing penile erection, respectively. Studies on the brain functions showed both activation and inactivation of the brain regions when receiving sexual stimulation, and those on the brain structure of ED patients revealed atrophy of the gray matter structure and abnormal connection of the white matter fibers. In addition, abnormal connections within emotional, cognitive and default and salience networks were found in patients with psychogenic ED. This article reviews the brain MRI-based studies on the central neurophysiological mechanisms of penile erection, aiming to gain a deeper insight into human neurophysiological mechanisms of the neural circuits controlling erectile function.