581 lines
46 KiB
Text
581 lines
46 KiB
Text
<!DOCTYPE html>
|
||
<html class="no-js" lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#">
|
||
<head>
|
||
<title>Touch-sensing protein plays role in sexual response | National Institutes of Health (NIH)</title>
|
||
<meta charset="utf-8" />
|
||
<script type="text/javascript">
|
||
//<![CDATA[
|
||
var usasearch_config = { siteHandle:"nih" };
|
||
|
||
var script = document.createElement("script");
|
||
script.type = "text/javascript";
|
||
script.src = "//search.usa.gov/javascripts/remote.loader.js";
|
||
document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(script);
|
||
|
||
//]]>
|
||
</script><link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://www.nih.gov/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" />
|
||
<meta name="google-site-verification" content="rjIoO4vW0AYgltSYvxM1L_CzGIkq28kHf9gHIASKx8s" />
|
||
<link rel="profile" href="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml/vocab" />
|
||
<meta http-equiv="cleartype" content="on" />
|
||
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/all/themes/nih/apple-touch-icon.png" />
|
||
<meta name="description" content="A protein called PIEZO2, which helps the body to sense light touch, appears to be involved in normal genital sensitivity." />
|
||
<meta name="keywords" content="PIEZO2, piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 2, PIEZO2-deficiency syndrome, sensory neurons, perineal mechanosensation, mechanoreceptors, sexual function, genital sensation, erection, touch, vibration, Alexander Chesler, Science" />
|
||
<meta name="robots" content="follow, index" />
|
||
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
|
||
<meta name="generator" content="Drupal 7 (http://drupal.org)" />
|
||
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/touch-sensing-protein-plays-role-sexual-response" />
|
||
<link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.nih.gov/node/243076" />
|
||
<meta http-equiv="content-language" content="EN" />
|
||
<meta property="og:site_name" content="National Institutes of Health (NIH)" />
|
||
<meta property="og:type" content="article" />
|
||
<meta property="og:title" content="Touch-sensing protein plays role in sexual response" />
|
||
<meta property="og:url" content="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/touch-sensing-protein-plays-role-sexual-response" />
|
||
<meta property="og:description" content="A protein called PIEZO2, which helps the body to sense light touch, appears to be involved in normal genital sensitivity." />
|
||
<meta property="og:updated_time" content="2023-10-03T11:08:28-04:00" />
|
||
<meta property="og:image" content="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/news-events/research-matters/2023/20230926-touch.jpg" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Touch-sensing protein plays role in sexual response" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/touch-sensing-protein-plays-role-sexual-response" />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:description" content="A protein called PIEZO2, which helps the body to sense light touch, appears to be involved in normal genital sensitivity." />
|
||
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/news-events/research-matters/2023/20230926-touch.jpg" />
|
||
<meta property="article:published_time" content="2023-09-25T15:56:52-04:00" />
|
||
<meta property="article:modified_time" content="2023-10-03T11:08:28-04:00" />
|
||
<meta name="owner" content="OD" />
|
||
<meta name="published_date" content="2023-09-25T15:56:52-04:00" />
|
||
<meta name="last_revision" content="2023-10-03T11:08:28-04:00" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_PfvPCWanzn7FjDwZqwAHhPoOxYKwkQP-RZSK1pFFG0s.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css__mIWP9gcStq74isjZVoAAsiih8VXwJoN75Nyw_BXrj0.css" media="screen" />
|
||
<style media="print">#sb-container{position:relative;}#sb-overlay{display:none;}#sb-wrapper{position:relative;top:0;left:0;}#sb-loading{display:none;}
|
||
</style>
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_jENQOQqZCRFGZK__DTefxYiXR2RUf03k1ugj3_Vg7vk.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//cdn.jsdelivr.net/qtip2/3.0.3/jquery.qtip.min.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_3yt-b0M1HNJsvKsXwYjh5TEtX2lJGAvJvtmVAfORYZs.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Droid+Sans:700,regular|Droid+Serif:italic,regular&subset=latin" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_E4VlyxyL3JMcT6dslWLGb0uQdoI2bh_Xj0N65V-bcWo.css" media="all" />
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_5rDMv37-JxnNA70cRr_1jlAjVs56DCb8EN4XB2QLl0c.css" media="all" />
|
||
|
||
<!--[if lte IE 8]>
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_aLJB_yHt22A_mQek4IRDNsur5tEkCpqLe72j_w6QHQ0.css" media="all" />
|
||
<![endif]-->
|
||
<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_KviiBystpJcQq4MplcQZvCFxnu9V763f5bPq_AKh4xM.css" media="all" />
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_mQAv54bz2JVXcwS5QWlz0fVY9Os67zeu9bgNqtlVLPY.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="//code.jquery.com/jquery-2.2.4.min.js"></script>
|
||
<script>window.jQuery || document.write("<script src='/sites/all/modules/contrib/jquery_update/replace/jquery/2.2/jquery.min.js'>\x3C/script>")</script>
|
||
<script>jQuery.migrateMute=true;jQuery.migrateTrace=false;</script>
|
||
<script src="//code.jquery.com/jquery-migrate-1.4.1.min.js"></script>
|
||
<script>window.jQuery && window.jQuery.migrateWarnings || document.write("<script src='/sites/all/modules/contrib/jquery_update/replace/jquery-migrate/1.4.1/jquery-migrate.min.js'>\x3C/script>")</script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_9sGTPBGcOGZjLiSLGrYEnuUf8VdvLmL_DEZNNNbnHXk.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_hNnF7a_sbk6nZ2-mOamHzalYND7HBHDLRInsaU93HDk.js"></script>
|
||
<script>document.createElement( "picture" );</script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_gHk2gWJ_Qw_jU2qRiUmSl7d8oly1Cx7lQFrqcp3RXcI.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="//cdn.jsdelivr.net/qtip2/3.0.3/jquery.qtip.min.js"></script>
|
||
<script defer="defer" src="//script.crazyegg.com/pages/scripts/0011/2616.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_3s0l7MQ3oYmGkNAypyzCJq3a0wT85XX_P1SLgnph5K4.js"></script>
|
||
<script>
|
||
Shadowbox.path = "/sites/all/libraries/shadowbox/";
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script>jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {"basePath":"\/","pathPrefix":"","setHasJsCookie":0,"instances":"{\u0022default\u0022:{\u0022content\u0022:{\u0022text\u0022:\u0022\u0022},\u0022style\u0022:{\u0022tip\u0022:false,\u0022classes\u0022:\u0022\u0022},\u0022position\u0022:{\u0022at\u0022:\u0022bottom right\u0022,\u0022adjust\u0022:{\u0022method\u0022:\u0022\u0022},\u0022my\u0022:\u0022top left\u0022,\u0022viewport\u0022:false},\u0022show\u0022:{\u0022event\u0022:\u0022mouseenter \u0022},\u0022hide\u0022:{\u0022event\u0022:\u0022mouseleave \u0022}}}","qtipDebug":"{\u0022leaveElement\u0022:0}","shadowbox":{"animate":true,"animateFade":true,"animSequence":"wh","auto_enable_all_images":1,"auto_gallery":1,"autoplayMovies":true,"continuous":false,"counterLimit":10,"counterType":"default","displayCounter":true,"displayNav":true,"enableKeys":true,"fadeDuration":0.34999999999999998,"handleOversize":"resize","handleUnsupported":"link","initialHeight":160,"initialWidth":320,"language":"en","modal":false,"overlayColor":"#000","overlayOpacity":0.80000000000000004,"resizeDuration":0.55000000000000004,"showMovieControls":true,"slideshowDelay":0,"viewportPadding":20,"useSizzle":false},"picture":{"mappings":[["Sidebar media mappings","sidebar_media_mappings"],["Floated media mappings","floated_media_mappings"],["Not Set","not_set"]],"label":"Image size (required)"},"extlink":{"extTarget":"_blank","extClass":"ext","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":0,"extIconPlacement":0,"extSubdomains":1,"extExclude":"(.\\.nih\\.gov.)|(.\\.cancer\\.gov.)|(.\\.genome\\.gov.)|(.\\.drugabuse\\.gov.)|(locatorplus\\.gov.)|(.\\.govdelivery\\.com.)|(.\\.hatchbuck\\.com.)|(nihseniorhealth\\.gov.)|(clinicaltrials\\.gov.)|(search\\.usa\\.gov\\\/search\\?affiliate\\=hip.)|(search\\.gov\\\/search\\?affiliate\\=hip.)|(drugabuse\\.gov.)|(medlineplus\\.gov.)|(collegedrinkingprevention\\.gov.)|(smokefree\\.gov.)|(arpa-h\\.gov.)|(nih\\.sharepoint\\.com)","extInclude":"(.\\.pagefreezer\\.com.)","extCssExclude":".media, .emergency-message, .slideshow-main, .bean-home-slideshow-2l-block","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":"_blank","extAlertText":"You are leaving the NIH website.\r\n\r\nThis external link provides additional information that is consistent with the intended purpose of this site. NIH cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal site.\r\n\r\nLinking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by NIH or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site. You will be subject to the destination site\u2019s privacy policy when you follow the link.","mailtoClass":"mailto","mailtoLabel":"(link sends e-mail)","extUseFontAwesome":0}});</script>
|
||
|
||
<script type="application/javascript" id="uws-snippet">
|
||
// Verint Unified WebSDK Integration Snippet v2.3
|
||
//
|
||
// Instructions: please embed this snippet directly into every page of your website template.
|
||
// For optimal performance, this should be embedded directly into the template, not referenced as
|
||
// an external file.
|
||
//
|
||
// DO NOT MODIFY BELOW THIS LINE *****************************************
|
||
(function () {
|
||
var cookies = document.cookie.split("; ").reduce(function (o, i) { var p = i.split("="); o[p[0]] = p[1]; return o; }, {});
|
||
var containerValue = cookies.uws_container_override && JSON.parse(decodeURIComponent(cookies.uws_container_override));
|
||
var config = {
|
||
moduleHost: "ucm-us.verint-cdn.com",
|
||
configHost: "ucm-us.verint-cdn.com",
|
||
siteKey: "nih-gov",
|
||
container: containerValue || "live",
|
||
loadTime: Date.now()
|
||
};
|
||
var readyCallbacks = []; window.uwsReady = function (callback) { readyCallbacks.push(callback); };
|
||
var sdkPath = "//" + [config.moduleHost, "files/sites", config.siteKey, config.container, "sdk.js"].join("/");
|
||
var script = document.createElement("script"); script.src = sdkPath; script.async = true; script.type = "module";
|
||
script.addEventListener("load", function () { window.unifiedSDK.start(config, readyCallbacks); });
|
||
document.head.appendChild(script);
|
||
})();
|
||
// DO NOT MODIFY ABOVE THIS LINE *****************************************
|
||
</script>
|
||
|
||
</head>
|
||
<body class="html not-front not-logged-in page-node page-node- page-node-243076 node-type-nih-research-matters section navigation-nih-research-matters section-news-events">
|
||
<a href="#main-content" class="element-invisible element-focusable">Skip to main content</a>
|
||
<noscript aria-hidden="true"><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5CBCNW2" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>
|
||
<div class="l-page has-one-sidebar has-sidebar-second">
|
||
|
||
<div class="l-page-content">
|
||
|
||
<header class="l-header" role="banner">
|
||
<div class="l-ribbon-wrapper">
|
||
<ul class="l-ribbon">
|
||
<li><span class="ribbon-hhs"></span><a href="https://www.hhs.gov">U.S. Department of Health & Human Services</a><span class="ribbon-right"></span></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div> <div class="l-banner-wrapper">
|
||
<div class="l-banner">
|
||
<div class="l-branding">
|
||
<a class="nih-logo icon-nih-logo" href="/" title="National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Turning Discovery into Health" rel="home"><img src="/sites/all/themes/nih/images/nih-logo-color.png" width="390" height="60" alt="National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Turning Discovery into Health" /></a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- DigitalGov Search -->
|
||
<form accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://search.nih.gov/search" id="search" class="search-form site-search" method="get">
|
||
<div style="margin:0;padding:0;display:inline"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓" /></div>
|
||
<input id="affiliate" name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="nih" />
|
||
<label for="query" class="hide">Search the NIH Website</label>
|
||
<input autocomplete="on" class="usagov-search-autocomplete form-field form-field-site-search" id="query" name="query" type="text" placeholder="Search NIH" /><input type="submit" name="commit" value="Search" class="form-button form-button-site-search" />
|
||
</form>
|
||
<ul class="banner-utilities">
|
||
<li><a href="/virtual-tour">Virtual Tour</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://ned.nih.gov/">Staff Directory</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://salud.nih.gov">En Español</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</header>
|
||
|
||
<div class="l-navigation-wrapper">
|
||
<!-- ****************** SITE MENU ****************** -->
|
||
<h2 class="element-invisible">Site Menu</h2>
|
||
<nav class="l-menu-wrapper">
|
||
<ul class="l-menu">
|
||
<!-- ********* HOME TAB (Mobile view only) ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-home">
|
||
<div class="tab home"><a href="/"><span>Home</span></a></div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* HEALTH INFO TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-healthinfo tab-wrapper-left">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/health-information"><span>Health Information</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul class="sub-menu">
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/programs/social-services/health-care-facilities/index.html">Health Care Providers & Facilities</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/health-information/health-info-lines">Health Info Lines</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.healthcare.gov">HealthCare.gov</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/science-education">Science Education Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you">NIH Clinical Research Trials and You</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/talking-your-doctor">Talking to Your Doctor</a></li>
|
||
<!--<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/clear-health-nih" title="">Clear Health A–Z</a></li>-->
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/health-information" title="More Health Information">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<form id="hipsearch" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://search.nih.gov/search" method="get" class="search-form">
|
||
<p class="subhead"><label for="query2">Search Health Topics</label></p>
|
||
<div class="input-wrapper">
|
||
<div style="margin:0;padding:0;display:inline"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓" /></div>
|
||
<input id="affiliate" name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="hip" />
|
||
<input type="hidden" name="dc" value="940" />
|
||
<input autocomplete="on" maxlength="50" class="usagov-search-autocomplete form-field form-field-search" id="query2" name="query" type="text" />
|
||
<input name="commit" type="submit" value="Go" id="searchbutton" class="form-button" />
|
||
</div>
|
||
</form>
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul class="sub-menu">
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-medlineplus" href="https://medlineplus.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">MedlinePlus Health Info</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-newsinhealth" href="https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH News in Health</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-wellnesstoolkits" href="/health-information/your-healthiest-self-wellness-toolkits"><span class="minibadge-text">Wellness Toolkits</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* GRANTS TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-grants tab-wrapper-left">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/grants-funding"><span>Grants & Funding</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov">Grants Home Page</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/funding/index.htm">Find Funding</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/due-dates-and-submission-policies/due-dates.htm">Due Dates</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.html">How to Apply</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/about_grants.htm">About Grants</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/policy/index.htm">Policy & Compliance</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://nexus.od.nih.gov/all/">Grants News/Blog</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://grants.nih.gov/funding/contracts.htm">Contracts</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.lrp.nih.gov/">Loan Repayment</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/grants-funding" title="More Grants & Funding Information">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-report" href="https://report.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">RePORT</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-era" href="https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/"><span class="minibadge-text">eRA Commons</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-commonfund" href="https://commonfund.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH Common Fund</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* NEWS TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-news tab-wrapper-left">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/news-events"><span>News & Events</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/news-releases">News Releases</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/digital-media-kits">Digital Media Kits</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/media-resources">Media Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/media-contacts">Media Contacts</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/images-b-roll">Images and B-roll</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/events">Events</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/news-events/social-media-outreach">Social Media</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/news-events" title="More News & Events">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-newsinhealth" href="https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH News in Health</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-researchmatters" href="/news-events/nih-research-matters"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH Research Matters</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-nihrecord" href="https://nihrecord.nih.gov/"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH Record</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* RESEARCH TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-research tab-wrapper-right">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/research-training"><span>Research & Training</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/medical-research-initiatives">Medical Research Initiatives</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/science-highlights">Science Highlights</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/science-education">Science Education</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/research-nih-labs-clinics">Research in NIH Labs & Clinics</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/training-opportunities">Training Opportunities</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/library-resources">Library Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/research-resources">Research Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/clinical-research-resources">Clinical Research Resources</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/research-training/safety-regulation-guidance">Safety, Regulation and Guidance</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/research-training" title="More Research & Training">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-pubmed" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">PubMed</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-stemcell" href="https://stemcells.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">Stem Cell Information</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-oppnet" href="https://oppnet.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">OppNet</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-nidb" href="https://intramural.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">NIDB</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="minibadge minibadge-nihblueprint" href="https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov"><span class="minibadge-text">NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* INSTITUTES TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-institutes tab-wrapper-right">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/institutes-nih"><span>Institutes at NIH</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/list-institutes-centers">List of Institutes and Centers</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director">NIH Office of the Director</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/directors-nih-institutes-centers">Directors of NIH Institutes and Centers</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-institute-center-contact-information">NIH Institute and Center Contact Information</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/institutes-nih" title="More About the Institutes at NIH">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul class="ic-acronymn-list">
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.cancer.gov" title="National Cancer Institute">NCI</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://nei.nih.gov" title="National Eye Institute">NEI</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov" title="National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute">NHLBI</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.genome.gov" title="National Human Genome Research Institute">NHGRI</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Aging">NIA</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism">NIAAA</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases">NIAID</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niams.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases">NIAMS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nibib.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering">NIBIB</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov" title="Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development">NICHD</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nidcd.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders">NIDCD</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nidcr.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research">NIDCR</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases">NIDDK</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://nida.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Drug Abuse">NIDA</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.niehs.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences">NIEHS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nigms.nih.gov" title="National Institute of General Medical Sciences">NIGMS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Mental Health">NIMH</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nimhd.nih.gov" title="National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities">NIMHD</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.ninds.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke">NINDS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.ninr.nih.gov" title="National Institute of Nursing Research">NINR</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov" title="National Library of Medicine">NLM</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.cc.nih.gov" title="NIH Clinical Center">CC</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.cit.nih.gov" title="Center for Information Technology">CIT</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.csr.nih.gov" title="Center for Scientific Review">CSR</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.fic.nih.gov" title="Fogarty International Center">FIC</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://ncats.nih.gov" title="National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences">NCATS</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://nccih.nih.gov" title="National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health">NCCIH</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<!-- ********* ABOUT TAB ********* -->
|
||
<li class="tab-wrapper tab-wrapper-about tab-wrapper-right">
|
||
<div class="tab"><a href="/about-nih"><span>About NIH</span></a></div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu">
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-leftcol">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are">Who We Are</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/what-we-do">What We Do</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://hr.nih.gov/jobs">Jobs at NIH</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/visitor-information">Visitor Information</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/contact-us">Contact Us</a></li>
|
||
<!--<li><a href="/about-nih/explore-nih">Explore NIH</a></li>-->
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="more-wrapper"><a class="button gold" href="/about-nih" title="More About NIH">More »</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="megamenu-col megamenu-rightcol">
|
||
<p class="subhead">Quick Links</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director">The NIH Director</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/virtual-tour">Take the Virtual Tour</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-turning-discovery-into-health">NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health<sup>®</sup></a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/what-we-do/impact-nih-research">Impact of NIH Research</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/what-we-do/science-health-public-trust">Science, Health, and Public Trust</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<div class="tab-bkgnd"></div><!-- For pixel rounding issue -->
|
||
</nav>
|
||
<!-- ****************** END SITE MENU ****************** -->
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="l-main-wrapper">
|
||
<div class="l-main" id="page-content">
|
||
<h2 class="element-invisible">You are here</h2><div class="breadcrumb"><a href="/">Home</a> » <a href="/news-events">News & Events</a> » <a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters">NIH Research Matters</a></div> <div class="l-region l-region--section-header">
|
||
<div id="block-block-101" class="block block--block sectionheader block--block-101" id="block-block-101" class="block block--block sectionheader block--block-101">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div class="content" class="block__content">
|
||
<h2><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters">NIH Research Matters</a></h2> </div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="l-content-wrapper">
|
||
<div class="l-content" role="main">
|
||
<a id="main-content"></a>
|
||
<div about="/news-events/nih-research-matters/touch-sensing-protein-plays-role-sexual-response" typeof="sioc:Item foaf:Document" class="ds-1col node node--nih-research-matters view-mode-full node--full node--nih-research-matters--full clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p class="publishdate"><span property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2023-09-26T00:00:00-04:00" class="date-display-single">September 26, 2023</span></p><div class='syndicate'><h1>Touch-sensing protein plays role in sexual response</h1><div class="callout callout-with-border"><h3>At a Glance</h3>
|
||
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>A protein called PIEZO2, which helps the body to sense light touch, appears to be involved in normal genital sensitivity.</li>
|
||
<li>More research is needed to see if manipulating PIEZO2 could help people who experience a lack of sexual sensation or, conversely, oversensitivity and pain.</li>
|
||
</ul></div><div class="media-float-right"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-floated_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<picture title="Illustration of abstract neuron on a blue background.">
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]><video style="display: none;"><![endif]-->
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-large/public/news-events/research-matters/2023/20230926-touch.jpg?itok=9iupyZH-&timestamp=1695671578 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 960px)" />
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/news-events/research-matters/2023/20230926-touch.jpg?itok=PW0QmJU9&timestamp=1695671578 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 800px)" />
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium-small/public/news-events/research-matters/2023/20230926-touch.jpg?itok=VL32doC-&timestamp=1695671578 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 600px)" />
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-small/public/news-events/research-matters/2023/20230926-touch.jpg?itok=fjMCHwlb&timestamp=1695671578 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 480px)" />
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-tiny/public/news-events/research-matters/2023/20230926-touch.jpg?itok=x39Xomhl&timestamp=1695671578 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 0)" />
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]></video><![endif]-->
|
||
<img src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/news-events/research-matters/2023/20230926-touch.jpg?itok=PW0QmJU9&timestamp=1695671578" alt="Illustration of abstract neuron on a blue background." title="Illustration of abstract neuron on a blue background." />
|
||
</picture><span class="caption">Researchers have been gaining further insights into the complex neural basis of touch perception. </span><span class="credit">lumerb / Shutterstock</span></div>
|
||
|
||
</div><p>Though sometimes embarrassing or even taboo to talk about, sexual health plays a vital role in human relationships and intimacy. Up to 20% of men and women will report some type of sexual dysfunction during their lives. But little is known about the physiological drivers of sexual problems.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>For more than a decade, a team of NIH researchers has been studying a protein called PIEZO2. This protein is found in certain nerve endings in the skin and elsewhere in the body. When a nerve is subject to pressure, such as from touch, PIEZO2 sets off a chain of events that sends an electrical signal to the spinal cord and on to the brain.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>People born with defects in the gene that produces PIEZO2 are unable to feel vibrations, are less sensitive to certain forms of gentle touch, and have trouble orienting themselves with their eyes closed. Because of its importance in discriminating touch, the team wondered if PIEZO2 may also contribute to sexual sensation. They examined this question in mice and in people with a rare inherited syndrome caused by lack of the gene for PIEZO2. Their results were published on August 25, 2023, in <em>Science</em>.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Normal mice react to even the gentlest touch with a thin wire filament in their genital regions. In contrast, mice engineered to lack PIEZO2 from the neck down had a drastically reduced ability to feel gentle touch in their genital regions. But these mice retained the ability to feel unpleasant sensations, such as the prick of a pin.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>In further studies, the researchers tracked the neural circuits involved in touch. They showed that different types of neurons that process touch, called mechanosensory neurons, are enriched in specific body areas. In particular, light touch neurons were more dense around the genital area compared to the paws (the mouse’s equivalent of our hands and feet). Closer examination of the genital area revealed that the nerve endings responsible for sensing light touch clustered around hair follicles. In mice lacking PIEZO2, neurons in the genital area lost the ability to respond to light touch.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>When male and female mice lacking PIEZO2 were housed together, they didn’t produce offspring. Male mice lacking PIEZO2 showed sexual interest but could not mate successfully when housed with normal female mice. Male mice lacking PIEZO2 also failed to produce an erection in response to normal contact to the area. Female mice lacking PIEZO2 housed with normal male mice rejected their sexual advances.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Five people who were born without PIEZO2—three men and two women—also participated in the studies. One male volunteer underwent testing that confirmed a lack of ability to feel light touch and vibration in his genital region. In interviews, all five participants reported a lack of response to genital light touch. However, they reported still being sexually active and able to become aroused.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>“Mechanosensation is directly linked with reproductive health and yet, so little has been known about the underlying mechanisms,” says Dr. Alexander Chesler, who helped lead the study. “These findings have direct clinical implications because they pinpoint a specific molecular target and, more broadly, provide an entry point to undercover the neural circuits involved in sexual sensation.”</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>More work is needed to understand whether boosting PIEZO2 activity could help people with a lack of sexual sensation, or whether blocking the protein might reduce genital hypersensitivity and pain.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>—by Sharon Reynolds</p></div><h2 class="label-above">Related Links</h2><ul class="spaced print-urls"><li><a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-nervous-system-perceives-pleasant-touch" target="_top">How the Nervous System Perceives Pleasant Touch</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-your-body-senses-urge-urinate" target="_top">How Your Body Senses the Urge to Urinate</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-gentle-touch-can-turn-painful-after-injury" target="_top">How Gentle Touch Can Turn Painful After Injury</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/rare-disorder-reveals-insights-into-touch-body-awareness" target="_top">Rare Disorder Reveals Insights into Touch and Body Awareness</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/discriminating-touch" target="_top">Discriminating Touch</a></li><li><a href="https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2017/02/do-social-ties-affect-our-health" target="_top">Do Social Ties Affect Our Health? Exploring the Biology of Relationships</a></li></ul><p class="footnote"><strong class="label-inline">References: </strong><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37616369/">PIEZO2 and perineal mechanosensation are essential for sexual function.</a> Lam RM, von Buchholtz LJ, Falgairolle M, Osborne J, Frangos E, Servin-Vences MR, Nagel M, Nguyen MQ, Jayabalan M, Saade D, Patapoutian A, Bönnemann CG, Ryba NJP, Chesler AT. <em>Science</em>. 2023 Aug 25;381(6660):906-910. doi: 10.1126/science.adg0144. Epub 2023 Aug 24. PMID: 37616369.</p><p class="footnote"><strong class="label-inline">Funding: </strong>NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); Howard Hughes Medical Institute.</p>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="lastupdated">
|
||
</div> </div>
|
||
<aside class="l-region l-region--sidebar-second masonry-container">
|
||
<div id="block-ds-extras-in-this-edition" class="block block--ds-extras box block--ds-extras-in-this-edition" id="block-ds-extras-in-this-edition" class="block block--ds-extras box block--ds-extras-in-this-edition">
|
||
|
||
<h3 class="block__title">In this Edition</h3>
|
||
|
||
<div class="content" class="block__content">
|
||
<div class="view view-nih-rm-in-this-edition view-id-nih_rm_in_this_edition view-display-id-default view-dom-id-802c6bd0ebe3e1a55bf7e13e894cc724">
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<div class="view-content">
|
||
<div>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters/biomarker-tracks-recovery-depression">Biomarker tracks recovery from depression</a></p> </div>
|
||
<div>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters/touch-sensing-protein-plays-role-sexual-response" class="active">Touch-sensing protein plays role in sexual response</a></p> </div>
|
||
<div>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="/news-events/nih-research-matters/immune-response-eating-chitin-linked-better-health">Immune response to eating chitin linked to better health</a></p> </div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
</div> </div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div id="block-bean-research-matters-search" class="block block--bean box block--bean-research-matters-search" id="block-bean-research-matters-search" class="block block--bean box block--bean-research-matters-search">
|
||
|
||
<h3 class="block__title">Search NIH Research Matters</h3>
|
||
|
||
<div class="content" class="block__content">
|
||
<div about="/block/research-matters---search" class="ds-1col entity entity-bean bean-research-matters-block view-mode-default clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<!-- DigitalGov Search -->
|
||
<form id="directorsearch" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://search.nih.gov/search/docs" method="get" class="search-form">
|
||
<div class="input-wrapper">
|
||
<div style="margin:0;padding:0;display:inline"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓" /></div>
|
||
<input id="affiliate" name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="nih" />
|
||
<input type="hidden" name="dc" value="678" />
|
||
<label for="query2" class="hide">Search NIH Research Matters' stories</label>
|
||
<input autocomplete="off" class="usagov-search-autocomplete form-field form-field-search" id="query2" name="query" type="text" />
|
||
<input name="commit" type="submit" value="Go" id="searchbutton" class="form-button" />
|
||
</div>
|
||
</form>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div id="block-bean-research-matters-contact-us" class="block block--bean box block--bean-research-matters-contact-us" id="block-bean-research-matters-contact-us" class="block block--bean box block--bean-research-matters-contact-us">
|
||
|
||
<h3 class="block__title">Connect with Us</h3>
|
||
|
||
<div class="content" class="block__content">
|
||
<div about="/block/research-matters---contact-us" class="ds-1col entity entity-bean bean-research-matters-block view-mode-default clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p><a class="button-link" href="https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIH/subscriber/new?topic_id=USNIH_48" onclick="window.open(this.href,'popup','width=725,height=500,left=25,top=25,location=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,status=yes');return false;">Subscribe to get NIH Research Matters by email</a></p>
|
||
|
||
<ul class="icon-list">
|
||
<li><a class="icon-link rss-monochrome" href="/nih-research-matters/feed.xml"><span class="icon"></span>RSS feed</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="icon-link facebook-monochrome" href="https://www.facebook.com/ResearchMatters"><span class="icon"></span>Facebook</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="icon-link email-monochrome" href="mailto:nihresearchmatters@od.nih.gov"><span class="icon"></span>Email us</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Mailing Address:</strong><br />
|
||
NIH Research Matters<br />
|
||
Bldg. 31, Rm. 5B52, MSC 2094<br />
|
||
Bethesda, MD 20892-2094</p></div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div id="block-bean-research-matters-popular-stori" class="block block--bean box block--bean-research-matters-popular-stori" id="block-bean-research-matters-popular-stori" class="block block--bean box block--bean-research-matters-popular-stori">
|
||
|
||
<h3 class="block__title">Popular Stories</h3>
|
||
|
||
<div class="content" class="block__content">
|
||
<div about="/block/research-matters---popular-stori" class="ds-1col entity entity-bean bean-research-matters-block view-mode-default clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/research-context-can-we-slow-aging">Research in Context: Can we slow aging?</a></p>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/brain-changes-observed-during-pregnancy">Brain changes observed during pregnancy</a></p>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/research-context-detecting-cancer">Research in Context: Detecting cancer</a></p>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/risk-future-burden-dementia-united-states">Risk and future burden of dementia in the United States </a></p>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/complete-wiring-map-adult-fruit-fly-brain">Complete wiring map of an adult fruit fly brain</a></p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div id="block-bean-research-matters-about" class="block block--bean box block--bean-research-matters-about" id="block-bean-research-matters-about" class="block block--bean box block--bean-research-matters-about">
|
||
|
||
<h3 class="block__title">About NIH Research Matters</h3>
|
||
|
||
<div class="content" class="block__content">
|
||
<div about="/block/research-matters---about" class="ds-1col entity entity-bean bean-research-matters-block view-mode-default clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Editor:</strong> Harrison Wein, Ph.D.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Assistant Editors:</strong> Vicki Contie and Brian Doctrow, Ph.D.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong><em>NIH Research Matters </em></strong>is a weekly update of NIH research highlights reviewed by NIH’s experts. It's published by the <a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison">Office of Communications and Public Liaison</a> in the <a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director">NIH Office of the Director</a>.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>ISSN 2375-9593</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</aside>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="l-connect-wrapper">
|
||
<div class="l-connect">
|
||
<h2 class="element-invisible">Connect with Us</h2>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a class="contactus-monochrome" href="/about-nih/contact-us"><span class="icon"></span>Contact Us</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="twitter-monochrome" href="https://twitter.com/NIH"><span class="icon"></span>X</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="facebook-monochrome" href="https://www.facebook.com/nih.gov"><span class="icon"></span>Facebook</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="instagram-monochrome" href="https://www.instagram.com/nihgov/"><span class="icon"></span>Instagram</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="youtube-monochrome" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/nihod"><span class="icon"></span>YouTube</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="flickr-monochrome" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nihgov/"><span class="icon"></span>Flickr</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="social-monochrome" href="/news-events/social-media-outreach"><span class="icon"></span>More Social Media from NIH</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="l-footer-wrapper">
|
||
<footer class="l-footer" role="contentinfo">
|
||
<h2 class="element-invisible">Footer</h2>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/">NIH Home</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/virtual-tour">Virtual Tour</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://salud.nih.gov">En Español</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/visitor-information">Visitor Information</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/about-nih/frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/disclaimers">Disclaimers</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/accessibility">Accessibility</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/nih-website-archives">NIH Website Archives</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="/nondiscrimination-notice">Nondiscrimination Notice</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/freedom-information-act-office">Freedom of Information Act</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.edi.nih.gov/no-fear-act">No Fear Act</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html">HHS Vulnerability Disclosure</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://oig.hhs.gov">Office of Inspector General</a></li>
|
||
<li><a class="lastTab" href="https://www.usa.gov/">USA.gov</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p>NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health<sup>®</sup></p>
|
||
<p>National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892</p>
|
||
<p><a href="https://www.hhs.gov">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a></p>
|
||
</footer>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="back-to-top"><a href="#"><span class="icon-arrow-up"></span><span class="text">Back to Top</span></a></div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_7Ukqb3ierdBEL0eowfOKzTkNu-Le97OPm-UqTS5NENU.js"></script>
|
||
<script src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_E9yUYWK8EMydR0HMIp2PahVxPAClXyH0Cnh782A15UM.js"></script>
|
||
</body>
|
||
</html>
|
||
|