biostudies-literatureQi LNCCIH NIH HHSNINDS NIH HHS926-934https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11208142biostudies-literatureUnknown630(8018)Krause corpuscles, which were discovered in the 1850s, are specialized sensory structures found within the genitalia and other mucocutaneous tissues^1-4. The physiological properties and functions of Krause corpuscles have remained unclear since their discovery. Here we report the anatomical and physiological properties of Krause corpuscles of the mouse clitoris and penis and their roles in sexual behaviour. We observed a high density of Krause corpuscles in the clitoris compared with the penis. Using mouse genetic tools, we identified two distinct somatosensory neuron subtypes that innervate Krause corpuscles of both the clitoris and penis and project to a unique sensory terminal region of the spinal cord. In vivo electrophysiology and calcium imaging experiments showed that botNatureKrause corpuscles are genital vibrotactile sensors for sexual behaviours.PMC11208142R01 AT011447R35 NS097344Qi LIskols MLiberles SDXiao JYGreenberg RSHandler AGinty DDfalseKrause corpuscles are genital vibrotactile sensors for sexual behaviours.Krause corpuscles, which were discovered in the 1850s, are specialized sensory structures found within the genitalia and other mucocutaneous tissues^1-4. The physiological properties and functions of Krause corpuscles have remained unclear since their discovery. Here we report the anatomical and physiological properties of Krause corpuscles of the mouse clitoris and penis and their roles in sexual behaviour. We observed a high density of Krause corpuscles in the clitoris compared with the penis. Using mouse genetic tools, we identified two distinct somatosensory neuron subtypes that innervate Krause corpuscles of both the clitoris and penis and project to a unique sensory terminal region of the spinal cord. In vivo electrophysiology and calcium imaging experiments showed that bot2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jun2026-06-05T05:02:20.274Z2025-02-19T00:17:20.183ZS-EPMC112081423889827310.1038/s41586-024-07528-4