Association between the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region and lifelong premature ejaculation: An updated meta-analysis of case-control studies

BGIG10116_34868: A Newly Discovered Gene Regulating Ejaculation Function

Ejaculation is a complex biphasic process involving a series of neurophysiological activities, such as the contraction of a large number of muscle groups and the ejaculation of semen from the urethra anterior. Due to the complexity of the process, many related factors have not been fully clarified, resulting in ejaculation dysfunction. As a common ejaculation dysfunction, lifelong premature ejaculation (LPE) is a problem for many people. Notably, gene polymorphism might play an important role in the etiology of LPE. However, the quest for identifying the actual genetic loci that contribute to LPE etiology has not been successful. Due to discrepancies in the design and methods of research, the correlation of most reports was not obtained in subjective replication experiments, and the conclusions may be inconsistent. In our study, three groups of ejaculation rats, namely, “rapid, normal, and delayed,” were selected based on the animal model of premature ejaculation (PE) in rats and the theory of ejaculation. Among them, the rats in the “rapid” ejaculation group can be used to stimulate humans with PE. Subsequently, we used the rat brain tissue for whole-transcriptome sequencing to screen the differential genes among the three groups. We tried to identify the actual genetic loci that contribute to PE etiology and provide a theoretical basis for the targeted therapy of PE.

Genome-Wide Association Analysis to Search for New Loci Associated with Lifelong Premature Ejaculation Risk in Chinese Male Han Population

PURPOSE

Genetic factors play an indispensable role in the pathogenesis of lifelong premature ejaculation (LPE). The susceptibility genes/SNPs that have been discovered are very limited and can only explain part of the genetic effects of LPE. Therefore, discovering more genetic polymorphisms associated with the occurrence and development of LPE will help reveal the pathogenesis of LPE.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a genome-wide association study of LPE in 486 Chinese male Han people (cases and controls). We used Gene Titan multi-channel instrument and Axiom Analysis Suite 6.0 software for genotyping. Imputation was performed by IMPUTE2 software and the 1000 Genomes Project (Phase3) was used as reference for haplotype. Finally, logistic regression analysis was performed on all loci that passed the quality control. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated to determine the association between each SNPs and Chinese male Han population LPE risk.

RESULTS

The results showed that a total of 33 genetic variants in 13 genes (LACTBL1, SSBP3, ACOT11, LINC02486, TMEM154, LINC01098, NONE, HCG27, HLA-C, TNFSF8, TNC, FAM53B, SULF2) have a suggestively significant genome-wide association with LPE risk (p<5×10^-6).

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to conduct a GWAS on LPE in Chinese male Han population 33 genetic polymorphisms have a suggestive genome-wide association with LPE risk. This study have provided data supplement for the genetic loci of LPE risk, and laid a scientific foundation for the pathogenesis and the targeted therapy of LPE.

Drosophila Corazonin Neurons as a Hub for Regulating Growth, Stress Responses, Ethanol-Related Behaviors, Copulation Persistence and Sexually Dimorphic Reward Pathways

The neuronal mechanisms by which complex behaviors are coordinated and timed often involve neuropeptidergic regulation of stress and reward pathways. Recent studies of the neuropeptide Corazonin (Crz), a homolog of the mammalian Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH), have suggested its crucial role in the regulation of growth, internal states and behavioral decision making. We focus this review on Crz neurons with the goal to (1) highlight the diverse roles of Crz neuron function, including mechanisms that may be independent of the Crz peptide, (2) emphasize current gaps in knowledge about Crz neuron functions, and (3) propose exciting ideas of novel research directions involving the use of Crz neurons. We describe the different developmental fates of distinct subsets of Crz neurons, including recent findings elucidating the molecular regulation of apoptosis. Crz regulates systemic growth, food intake, stress responses and homeostasis by interacting with the short Neuropeptide F (sNPF) and the steroid hormone ecdysone. Additionally, activation of Crz neurons is shown to be pleasurable by interacting with the Neuropeptide F (NPF) and regulates reward processes such as ejaculation and ethanol-related behaviors in a sexually dimorphic manner. Crz neurons are proposed to be a motivational switch regulating copulation duration using a CaMKII-dependent mechanism described as the first neuronal interval timer lasting longer than a few seconds. Lastly, we propose ideas to use Crz neuron-induced ejaculation to study the effects of fictive mating and sex addiction in flies, as well as to elucidate dimorphic molecular mechanisms underlying reward behaviors and feeding disorders.