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BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Mar 2023Specialized mechanosensory end organs within mammalian skin-hair follicle-associated lanceolate complexes, Meissner corpuscles, and Pacinian corpuscles-enable our...
Specialized mechanosensory end organs within mammalian skin-hair follicle-associated lanceolate complexes, Meissner corpuscles, and Pacinian corpuscles-enable our perception of light, dynamic touch . In each of these end organs, fast-conducting mechanically sensitive neurons, called Aβ low-threshold mechanoreceptors (Aβ LTMRs), associate with resident glial cells, known as terminal Schwann cells (TSCs) or lamellar cells, to form complex axon ending structures. Lanceolate-forming and corpuscle-innervating Aβ LTMRs share a low threshold for mechanical activation, a rapidly adapting (RA) response to force indentation, and high sensitivity to dynamic stimuli . How mechanical stimuli lead to activation of the requisite mechanotransduction channel Piezo2 and Aβ RA-LTMR excitation across the morphologically dissimilar mechanosensory end organ structures is not understood. Here, we report the precise subcellular distribution of Piezo2 and high-resolution, isotropic 3D reconstructions of all three end organs formed by Aβ RA-LTMRs determined by large volume enhanced Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) imaging. We found that within each end organ, Piezo2 is enriched along the sensory axon membrane and is minimally or not expressed in TSCs and lamellar cells. We also observed a large number of small cytoplasmic protrusions enriched along the Aβ RA-LTMR axon terminals associated with hair follicles, Meissner corpuscles, and Pacinian corpuscles. These axon protrusions reside within close proximity to axonal Piezo2, occasionally contain the channel, and often form adherens junctions with nearby non-neuronal cells. Our findings support a unified model for Aβ RA-LTMR activation in which axon protrusions anchor Aβ RA-LTMR axon terminals to specialized end organ cells, enabling mechanical stimuli to stretch the axon in hundreds to thousands of sites across an individual end organ and leading to activation of proximal Piezo2 channels and excitation of the neuron.
PubMed: 36993253
DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.17.533188 -
Case Reports in Plastic Surgery & Hand... 2019Pacinian corpuscle pathology is a rare clinical entity and an uncommonly reported cause of digital pain. While many prior reports implicate hand trauma, we describe a...
Pacinian corpuscle pathology is a rare clinical entity and an uncommonly reported cause of digital pain. While many prior reports implicate hand trauma, we describe a case of Pacinian hyperplasia found in a patient with Raynaud's phenomenon and propose a potential mechanism of disease.
PubMed: 32002464
DOI: 10.1080/23320885.2019.1698958 -
Journal of Molecular Histology Jun 2020Here we investigated the morphology, quantity, distribution and gene expression of mechanoreceptors in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament...
Here we investigated the morphology, quantity, distribution and gene expression of mechanoreceptors in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), patellar tendon (PaT) and popliteal tendon (PoT) of the knee joint. Twelve 6-month-old rabbits were divided into two groups. In one group, the ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL, PaT and PoT were collected to observe the morphology, distribution and quantity of mechanoreceptors. In another group, the ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL, PaT and PoT of bilateral knee joints were used to determine S100B, CGRP and NEFM gene levels. Five types of mechanoreceptors were observed including Ruffini corpuscles, Pacinian corpuscles, Golgi-tendon bodies, atypical mechanoreceptors and free nerve endings. The total amount of mechanoreceptors was significantly lower in MCL, LCL, PaT and PoT as compared with ACL and PCL (P < 0.001). All examined mechanoreceptors were present in ACL, PCL and LCL. However, no Pacinian corpuscles and Golgi-tendon bodies were found in MCL and PoT as well as Pacinian corpuscles were not observed in PaT. The present study indicated that the levels of NEFM was significantly lower in PCL, MCL, LCL, PaT and PoT as compared with ACL (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in CGRP level between ACL and other ligaments except LCL (P > 0.05). Thus, the quantity, type and gene expression of mechanoreceptors are different in various ligaments. Thus, the quantity and distribution of mechanoreceptors may be related to ligament's function.
Topics: Animals; Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Gene Expression; Knee Joint; Male; Mechanoreceptors; Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee; Neurofilament Proteins; Posterior Cruciate Ligament; Rabbits; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit
PubMed: 32356233
DOI: 10.1007/s10735-020-09875-8 -
Anatomical Record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007) Mar 2022Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) demonstrate rapid, accurate tactile abilities using their paws and facial vibrissae. Anatomical investigations of neural organization in the...
Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) demonstrate rapid, accurate tactile abilities using their paws and facial vibrissae. Anatomical investigations of neural organization in the vibrissal bed and somatosensory cortex coincide with measured sensitivity, but no studies describe sensory receptors in the paws or other regions of glabrous (i.e., hairless) skin. In this study, we use histology to assess the presence, density, and distribution of mechanoreceptors in the glabrous skin of sea otters: paws, rhinarium, lips, and flipper digits, and we use scanning electron microscopy to describe skin-surface texture and its potential effect on the transduction of mechanical stimuli. Our results confirm the presence of Merkel cells and Pacinian corpuscles, but not Meissner corpuscles, in all sea otter glabrous skin. The paws showed the highest density of Merkel cells and Pacinian corpuscles. Within the paw, relative densities of mechanoreceptor types were highest in the distal metacarpal pad and digits, which suggests that the distal paw is a tactile fovea for sea otters. In addition to the highest receptor density, the paw displayed the thickest epidermis. Rete ridges (epidermal projections into the dermis) and dermal papillae (dermal projections into the epidermis) were developed across all glabrous skin. These quantitative and qualitative descriptions of neural organization and physical features, combined with previous behavioral results, contribute to our understanding of how structure relates to function in the tactile modality. Our findings coincide with behavioral observations of sea otters, which use touch to maintain thermoregulatory integrity of their fur, explore objects, and capture visually cryptic prey.
Topics: Animals; Mechanoreceptors; Otters; Skin; Touch; Touch Perception
PubMed: 34425043
DOI: 10.1002/ar.24739 -
Annals of Anatomy = Anatomischer... Jul 2019Pacinian corpuscles are onion bulb-like multilayered mechanoreceptors that consist of a complicated structure of axon terminals, Schwann related cells (inner core),...
Pacinian corpuscles are onion bulb-like multilayered mechanoreceptors that consist of a complicated structure of axon terminals, Schwann related cells (inner core), endoneural related cells (intermediate layer) and perineurial related cells (outer core-capsule). The cells forming those compartments are continuous and share the properties of that covering the nerve fibers. Small leucine-rich proteoglycans are major proteoglycans of the extracellular matrix and regulate collagen fibrillogenesis, cell signalling pathways and extracellular matrix assembly. Here we used immunohistochemistry to investigate the distribution of class I (biglycan, decorin, asporin, ECM2 and ECMX) and class II (fibromodulin, lumican, prolargin, keratocan and osteoadherin) small leucine-rich proteoglycans in human cutaneous Pacinian corpuscles. The distribution of these compounds was: the inner core express decorin, biglycan, lumican, fibromodulin, osteoadherin; the intermediate layer display immunoreactivity for osteoadherin; the outer core biglycan, decorin, lumican, fibromodulin and osteoadherin; and the capsule contains biglycan, decorin, fibromodulin, and lumican. Asporin, prolargin and keratocan were undetectable. These results complement our knowledge about the distribution of small leucine-rich proteoglycans in human Pacinian corpuscles, and help to understand the composition of the extracellular matrix in these sensory formations.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Antigens, CD34; Biglycan; Child; Decorin; Equidae; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Fibromodulin; Fingers; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Goats; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Mice; Middle Aged; Pacinian Corpuscles; Proteoglycans; Rabbits; S100 Proteins; Skin; Vimentin; Young Adult
PubMed: 31005573
DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2019.02.007 -
Romanian Journal of Morphology and... 2020Lamellar (Pacinian) corpuscle is a cutaneous encapsulated sensory corpuscle, mainly functioning as a rapidly adapting low-threshold mechanoreceptor with characteristic...
Lamellar (Pacinian) corpuscle is a cutaneous encapsulated sensory corpuscle, mainly functioning as a rapidly adapting low-threshold mechanoreceptor with characteristic "onion skin"-like appearance. Even though the Pacinian corpuscle is typically located in the skin, histomorphologically and confirmed by using immunohistochemical methods, we have identified it within the interstitium of the thymus of a newborn with congenital heart defect. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such account ever to be published. The structure of the thymic Pacinian corpuscle was the same as the Pacinian corpuscle in the skin. The ectopic thymic Pacinian corpuscle can be hypothetically explained as the consequence of impaired migration of neural crest cells, since neural crest-derived cells play an important role in the development of the Pacinian corpuscle, as well as the thymus and heart. In general, the occurrence of ectopic Pacinian corpuscle in different organs is rare. In the scientific literature, there are reports of its sporadic presence in the pancreas, in the lymph nodes, inside the prostate and the urinary bladder wall. Our report presents the first described case of the Pacinian corpuscle in a heterotopic location in the thymus. Similar to other incidental findings of this anatomic structure, explanation of its ectopic development, as well as its local function remains only speculative.
Topics: Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Pacinian Corpuscles; Thymus Gland
PubMed: 32747922
DOI: 10.47162/RJME.61.1.33 -
Foot (Edinburgh, Scotland) Dec 2021Pacinian hyperplasia in the human body has been rarely described in the literature with most cases reported involving the hand (Fassola et al., 2019). This hyperplasia...
Pacinian hyperplasia in the human body has been rarely described in the literature with most cases reported involving the hand (Fassola et al., 2019). This hyperplasia is considered a reactive lesion as opposed to a neoplasm (Satge et al., 2001), with the most common presenting complaint being pain and swelling (Fassola et al., 2019). In this study, a case of bilateral Pacinian corpuscle hyperplasia in the adult foot not previously described in the literature is presented.
Topics: Adult; Hand; Humans; Hyperplasia; Neuroma; Pacinian Corpuscles; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms
PubMed: 33036838
DOI: 10.1016/j.foot.2020.101709 -
JPRAS Open Dec 2021Pacinian corpuscle hyperplasia is a pathological increase in the size (Pacinian hypertrophy) and/or density of mature Pacinian corpuscles. Although its aetiology and...
Pacinian corpuscle hyperplasia is a pathological increase in the size (Pacinian hypertrophy) and/or density of mature Pacinian corpuscles. Although its aetiology and pathogenesis remain unclear, surgery is the main treatment. Here, we report a rare case of Pacinian hypertrophy at the fingertip treated with surgical excision and reconstruction using a reverse digital artery flap. A 47-year-old man presented with injuries to his right little finger, which was wedged in a door while unloading a truck. His fingertip was amputated and stump plasty was performed. However, severe pain persisted at the fingertip for 5 months after the surgery. Therefore, the painful part of his fingertip was resected, and reconstruction was performed using a reverse digital artery flap 6 months after the injury. Haematoxylin and eosin staining of the resected specimen revealed scar tissue with foreign body reaction and mild Pacinian hypertrophy. One year has passed since the injury, and the pain has completely disappeared. The patient regained complete range of motion in his little finger and was able to resume work without any limitations. Surgical excision with sufficient margin and reconstruction with a reverse digital artery flap is a reliable method to relieve pain due to Pacinian hypertrophy at the fingertip.
PubMed: 34522755
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpra.2021.08.001 -
The Journal of Dermatology Oct 2020
Topics: Glomus Tumor; Humans; Neuroma; Pacinian Corpuscles; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms
PubMed: 32734616
DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.15524 -
Royal Society Open Science Apr 2020Vibration sensing is ubiquitous among vertebrates, with the sensory end organ generally being a multilayered ellipsoidal structure. There is, however, a wide range of...
Vibration sensing is ubiquitous among vertebrates, with the sensory end organ generally being a multilayered ellipsoidal structure. There is, however, a wide range of sizes and structural arrangements across species. In this work, we applied our earlier computational model of the Pacinian corpuscle to predict the sensory response of different species to various stimulus frequencies, and based on the results, we identified the optimal frequency for vibration sensing and the bandwidth over which frequencies should be most detectable. We found that although the size and layering of the corpuscles were very different, almost all of the 19 species studied showed very similar sensitivity ranges. The human and goose were the notable exceptions, with their corpuscle tuned to higher frequencies (130-170 versus 40-50 Hz). We observed no correlation between animal size and any measure of corpuscle geometry in our model. Based on the results generated by our computational model, we hypothesize that lamellar corpuscles across different species may use different sizes and structures to achieve similar frequency detection bands.
PubMed: 32431862
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191439