Rat somatosensory cortex contains a large sexually monomorphic genital representation. Genital cortex undergoes an unusual 2-fold expansion during puberty. Here, we investigate genital cortex development and female rat sexual maturation. Ovariectomies and estradiol injections suggested sex hormones cause the pubertal genital cortex expansion but not its maintenance at adult size. Genital cortex expanded by thalamic afferents invading surrounding dysgranular cortex. Genital touch was a dominant factor driving female sexual maturation. Raising female rats in contact with adult males promoted genital cortex expansion, whereas contact to adult females or nontactile (audio-visual-olfactory) male cues did not. Genital touch imposed by human experimenters powerfully advanced female genital cortex development and sexual maturation. Long-term blocking of genital cortex by tetrodotoxin in pubescent females housed with males prevented genital cortex expansion and decelerated vaginal opening. Sex hormones, sexual experience, and neural activity shape genital cortex, which contributes to the puberty promoting effects of sexual touch.

大鼠的体感皮层含有较大的性单态生殖器代表。生殖器皮层在青春期会经历异常的2倍膨胀。在这里，我们调查生殖器皮层发育和雌性大鼠性成熟。卵巢切除术和雌二醇注射表明性激素会导致青春期生殖器皮层扩张，但不能维持成年大小。生殖器皮层由丘脑传入侵犯周围的运动障碍皮层而扩大。生殖器接触是驱动女性性成熟的主要因素。饲养雌性大鼠与成年雄性接触可促进生殖器皮层扩张，而接触成年雌性或非触觉（视听嗅觉）雄性提示则不能。人类实验者施加的生殖器触碰可强有力地促进女性生殖器皮质的发育和性成熟。河豚毒素在雄性同房的雌性雌性动物中长期阻断生殖器皮层，防止了生殖器皮层扩张和阴道开放减慢。性激素，性经验和神经活动会影响生殖器皮层，这有助于青春期促进性接触。