LUST & FOUND
Randy enzyme clue to men’s sex urges
SCIENTISTS used mice to track down a sex gene in the human brain – helping them explain what makes men randy.
Experts discovered the lust enzyme aromatase in brain tissue for the first time.
It turns testosterone into oestrogen which boosts a bloke’s sex drive, or libido.
Researchers “knocked out” aromatase in mice and found they were 50% less randy.
Dr Serdar Bulun, at Northwestern University in Chicago, said: “This is the first key finding to explain how male hormone testosterone stimulates sexual desire.
“For the first time, we demonstrated conclusively that the conversion of testosterone to oestrogen in the brain is critical to maintain full sexual activity or desire in males. Aromatase drives that.”
His colleague Professor Hong Zhao added: “Male mice partially lost interest in sex. Aromatase is the key enzyme for oestrogen production. Oestrogen has functions in males and females.
“Testosterone has to be converted to oestrogen to drive sexual desire in males.”
But mice with a surge in testosterone in their blood can have their sexy mood killed by reducing aromatase. Dr Bulun added: “If a normal male mouse is put with a female one it would chase after her and try to have sex with her.
“If you knock out the aromatase gene in the brain, their sexual activity is significantly reduced.”
But drugs can help boost the lust gene which would help a third of British men who suffer from sex drive and erection issues.
These issues can lead to stress, tiredness and relationship problems.