English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

The shape ofMerkel cells from Merkel cell-neurite complexes, which are slowly adapting type I (SAI) mechanoreceptors in the touch dome of 3-12 week old golden hamster cheek pouch mucosa, were examined by immunohistochemistry and under an electron microscope. This is the first report of its kind observing the shapes of Merkel cells which had beforehand been established functionally as SAI mechanoreceptors. lmmunohistochemistry using anticytokeratin 20 antibody and light microscopic observations of quinacrine fluorescence treated Merkel domes revealed that some Merkel cells were of dendritic shape. On the other hand, many Merkel cells were of globular and/or roundish shape. Observation of Merkel cells using an electron microscope also revealed some dendritic-shaped Merkel cells, however almost all of them contacted nerve terminals. In spite of the Merkel cells shape, it seems appropriate to theorize that the majority of Merkel cells (including dendritic-shaped Merkel cells) from Merkel cell-neurite complexes in SAI mechanoreceptores are related to the reception of mechanical stimulation. Immunohistochemical studies using various antibodies against Merkel cell specific cytokeratins have revealed a polymorphism of Merkel cells in the skin (4, 5) and mucosa (6, 7). Merkel cells in embryonic, fetal and adult human skin were reported to appear in two completely different forms: typical (globular and/or roundish) Merkel cells (Rl\/ICs) and dendritic Merkel cells (DMCs) possessing thread-like cell processes (4, 5). Using immunohistochemical and electron microscopic techniques, it has also been reported that the DMCs did not have contact with nerve terminals in the rodent palatine mucosa (6, 7). These ”“Correspondence to: Dr Masakazu Tazaki Oral Health Science Center, Department of Physiology, Tokyo Dental College, l-2-2, Masago, Mihamaku, Chiba 261-8502, Japan. Tel.: +81 43 270 3771; Fax: +81 43 279 2052; E-mail: mtazaki@tdc.ac.jp morphological findings for the polymorphism of Merkel cells suggested that there may be a heterogeneity of Merkel cells with regard to the functions of the cells. However, the above mentioned reports did not examine the function of Merkel cells. On the other hand, Merkel cells in the touch dome of hamster cheek pouch mucosa were first reported by Calderon-Solt and Solt (l) using a transmission electron microscope. Tazaki and Iggo (9) reported that Merkel cell-neurite complexes of the touch dome were functioning as slowly adapting type I (SAI) mechanoreceptors. In the same preparation voltage dependent calcium channels (l0) and stretch activated channels (ll) were found in the Merkel cell membrane. Therefore, the function of the Merkel cells in the touch domes supported the hypothesis that the Merkel cells are the mechano-electric transducer in SAI receptors. The polymorphism and im-

Polymorphism of Merkel cells from slowly adapting type I mechanoreceptors in the buccal pouch of the golden hamster