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CUTANEOUS RECEPTORS OF THE EPITHELIUM OF LABIA MINORA IN PREPUBERTAL GIRLS
Author(s) -
Schober Justine M,
Alguacil Nieves Martin,
Pfaff Donald,
Mayaglou Lazarus,
Aardsma Nathan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.748.4
Subject(s) - stratum spinosum , labia minora , dermis , anatomy , mechanoreceptor , free nerve ending , dermal papillae , biology , pathology , epidermis (zoology) , immunocytochemistry , merkel cell , sensory receptor , cutaneous nerve , sensory system , medicine , hair follicle , stratum corneum , vulva , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , merkel cell carcinoma , carcinoma
Sparse information is available regarding terminal sensory nerve endings within the glabrous skin of the female external genitalia. Receptors sense tactile stimuli encoding stimulus position, changes in temperature, pressure and pain. Diversity of possible sensations suggests the presence of a variety of receptor types. This neuro‐histological study seeks to document presence and characteristics of cutaneous sensory receptors in female genital tissue. Materials and Methods Labial skin samples from ten girls who underwent surgery for labial fusion were waste tissue, obtained after informed consent from parent or legal guardian. Cajal‐type silver impregnation, immunocytochemistry against protein gene product (PGP) 9.5, and neuron‐specific enolase (NSE) was performed. Results Dense innervation of labia minora epidermis with intense staining along the introital versus the external border was noted. Free nerve endings were identified in papillary dermis. Sensory corpuscles: non‐capsulated, Meissner‐like corpuscles, scattered in dermal papillae interdigitated with epidermal ridges of the skin, encapsulated corpuscles protruded into epidermis from deep dermis, Merkel cell‐neurite complex was identified in stratum basale and spinosum. Encapsulated corpuscles and cells located in the inner and outer core were strongly positive to PGP 9.5.