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International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2020We studied telocytes/CD34+ stromal cells in the normal and pathological peripheral nervous system (PNS), for which we reviewed the literature and contributed our... (Review)
Review
We studied telocytes/CD34+ stromal cells in the normal and pathological peripheral nervous system (PNS), for which we reviewed the literature and contributed our observations under light and electron microscopy in this field. We consider the following aspects: (A) general characteristics of telocytes and the terminology used for these cells (e.g., endoneurial stromal cells) in PNS; (B) the presence, characteristics and arrangement of telocytes in the normal PNS, including (i) nerve epi-perineurium and endoneurium (e.g., telopodes extending into the endoneurial space); (ii) sensory nerve endings (e.g., Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles, and neuromuscular spindles); (iii) ganglia; and (iv) the intestinal autonomic nervous system; (C) the telocytes in the pathologic PNS, encompassing (i) hyperplastic neurogenic processes (neurogenic hyperplasia of the appendix and gallbladder), highly demonstrative of telocyte characteristics and relations, (ii) PNS tumours, such as neurofibroma, schwannoma, granular cell tumour and nerve sheath myxoma, and interstitial cell of Cajal-related gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), (iii) tumour-invaded nerves and (iv) traumatic, metabolic, degenerative or genetic neuropathies, in which there are fewer studies on telocytes, e.g., neuroinflammation and nerves in undescended testicles (cryptorchidism), Klinefelter syndrome, crush injury, mucopolysaccharidosis II (Hunter's syndrome) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Disease Susceptibility; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Nerve Endings; Peripheral Nervous System; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Telocytes
PubMed: 32560571
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124320 -
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology Oct 2020Structures resembling Meissner corpuscles have been described in various nerve sheath tumors, including schwannomas and neurofibromas. When present, they are focal or...
Structures resembling Meissner corpuscles have been described in various nerve sheath tumors, including schwannomas and neurofibromas. When present, they are focal or scattered, and rarely a prominent feature of the lesion. Here, we report a case of a 39-year-old female who presented with an isolated lesion on her abdomen. Histopathologically, the tumor was almost exclusively composed of Meissner corpuscle-like structures (pseudo-meissnerian bodies). At a small edge of the tumor, there were features of a classic neurofibroma, with a mixture of Schwann cells, fibroblast-like cells, and interspersed mast cells. We propose the term "meissnerian neurofibroma" for this extremely rare variant of neurofibroma.
Topics: Adult; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fibroblasts; Humans; Mast Cells; Mechanoreceptors; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms; Neurilemmoma; Neurofibroma; S100 Proteins; Schwann Cells
PubMed: 32447757
DOI: 10.1111/cup.13759 -
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 -
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 -
Attention, Perception & Psychophysics Aug 2020It has been shown that vibrotactile stimuli elicit sound perception either on their own or by enhancing otherwise inaudible sounds. For taking advantage of this...
It has been shown that vibrotactile stimuli elicit sound perception either on their own or by enhancing otherwise inaudible sounds. For taking advantage of this phenomenon in the design of vibrotactile interfaces, it is important to identify its properties with respect to the level of the excitation frequency. The aim of this work is to further substantiate previous research results that indicate a prevalence of this phenomenon at a specific range of frequencies (200-390 Hz), which roughly pertains to the Pacinian corpuscle's maximum sensitivity range. Thirteen young adults participated in the study, which included comparison between sound-and-vibration versus sound-only signals. Masking background noise and no-touch control experiments were included to further support the outcome. The results validate the hypothesis that vibrotactile excitation at the index fingertip can enhance otherwise inaudible tones in the specific range of frequencies.
Topics: Fingers; Humans; Sensory Thresholds; Touch Perception; Vibration; Young Adult
PubMed: 32342343
DOI: 10.3758/s13414-020-02025-y -
Skin Appendage Disorders Mar 2020This article gives an account of the commonest causes of nail pain. The acronyms GIFTED KID and FOMITE will help aid doctors in a busy clinical setting to remember the... (Review)
Review
This article gives an account of the commonest causes of nail pain. The acronyms GIFTED KID and FOMITE will help aid doctors in a busy clinical setting to remember the main causes of onychalgia, respectively, on the fingers and toes. It includes a brief overview of the clinical characteristics and focuses on the type of pain for each condition as well as the mechanisms that cause it.
PubMed: 32258050
DOI: 10.1159/000504347 -
Revista Espanola de Patologia :... 2020Pacinian neurofibroma (PNF) is a lobulated benign neural tumor with prominent structures resembling pacinian bodies. These tumors most commonly occur in areas where...
Pacinian neurofibroma (PNF) is a lobulated benign neural tumor with prominent structures resembling pacinian bodies. These tumors most commonly occur in areas where normal pacinian bodies are found, such as the hands and feet. Although pacinian bodies are common in the penis, no cases of penile PNF have been reported to date. We present a case of PNF on the dorsal glans penis of a 47-year-old man. The lesion presented as a single flesh-colored papule and the biopsy showed a dermal neurofibroma consisting of bland spindle cells with wavy nuclei, without mitoses or atypia, and some nodular structures with a concentric arrangement and a pacinian appearance. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated positivity for CD34 and Vimetin and negativity for Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA). S100 was highly positive in the most central areas of the pacinian-like nodules, while the periphery and non-nodular parts of the neurofibroma were less intensively expressed.
Topics: Antigens, CD34; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neurofibroma; Pacinian Corpuscles; Penile Neoplasms; S100 Proteins; Vimentin
PubMed: 32199595
DOI: 10.1016/j.patol.2019.03.008 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2020The function of the external ear canal in cetaceans is still under debate and its morphology is largely unknown. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses using antibodies...
The function of the external ear canal in cetaceans is still under debate and its morphology is largely unknown. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses using antibodies specific for nervous tissue (anti-S100, anti-NSE, anti-NF, and anti-PGP 9.5), together with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and various histological techniques, were carried out to investigate the peripheral nervous system of the ear canals of several species of toothed whales and terrestrial Cetartiodactyla. This study highlights the innervation of the ear canal with the presence of lamellar corpuscles over its entire course, and their absence in all studied terrestrial mammals. Each corpuscle consisted of a central axon, surrounded by lamellae of Schwann receptor cells, surrounded by a thin cellular layer, as shown by IHC and TEM. These findings indicate that the corpuscles are mechanoreceptors that resemble the inner core of Pacinian corpuscles without capsule or outer core, and were labelled as simple lamellar corpuscles. They form part of a sensory system that may represent a unique phylogenetic feature of cetaceans, and an evolutionary adaptation to life in the marine environment. Although the exact function of the ear canal is not fully clear, we provide essential knowledge and a preliminary hypothetical deviation on its function as a unique sensory organ.
Topics: Animals; Axons; Ear Canal; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Pacinian Corpuscles; Peripheral Nervous System; Phylogeny
PubMed: 32144309
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61170-4 -
Bioinspiration & Biomimetics May 2020A vibration sensor is presented mimicking the structure of the Pacinian corpuscle. A multi-step casting process is used to create a 5 mm diameter sensor with a liquid...
A vibration sensor is presented mimicking the structure of the Pacinian corpuscle. A multi-step casting process is used to create a 5 mm diameter sensor with a liquid metal core, elastomer dielectric, and graphite counter electrode creating a spherical capacitive sensing element with sensitivities on the order of 10 Δ pF/mm. A model for the capacitance change of the spherical capacitor as it is formed is developed and its findings support the sensitivities observed. Various elastomer dielectric compositions with integrated barium titanate nanoparticles are tested to increase the dielectric constant. The biological acoustic filter within the corpuscle is mimicked using alternating cast layers of oligomers and elastomers around the spherical sensor element. Vibration sensing is characterized over the low frequency range of 10-300 Hz and the minimum detectable sensitivity is found to be 1 µm with a low power requirement of 7 mW. The artificial Pacinian corpuscle has potential applications in tactile sensing and seismic monitoring devices.
Topics: Animals; Barium Compounds; Biomimetic Materials; Biosensing Techniques; Humans; Nanoparticles; Pacinian Corpuscles; Titanium; Vibration
PubMed: 32106099
DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ab7ab6 -
Somatosensory & Motor Research Jun 2020The Pacinian Corpuscle (PC) is the most sensitive mechanoreceptor in the human body found in clusters of two or three. We extended our previous model of an isolated-PC...
The Pacinian Corpuscle (PC) is the most sensitive mechanoreceptor in the human body found in clusters of two or three. We extended our previous model of an isolated-PC to a cluster-PC focussing on relative spike delay and displacement threshold for understanding how the stimulus location is coded. In our model, two PCs with Gaussian overlapping receptive fields are arranged beneath the skin model. For a spatiotemporal stimulus (vibration), the model response is proposed to be a time-division multiplexing of responses from two PCs within the cluster. While the spike rate characteristics and pole-zero plot of cluster-PC model show similarities with the isolated-PC model, the frequency response shows ripples after 1 kHz as the distance () between the PCs increases. The stimulus location [Formula: see text] and influence the relative spike delay and the displacement threshold, but not the spike rate. The novel contributions from our model include prediction of (i) relative spike delay for various , stimulus frequency (), and , (ii) spike rate characteristics for varying , and (iii) displacement threshold curve as a function of frequency for various . Although the physiological validation of the novel predictions is impractical, we have validated the relative spike delay and the displacement threshold curves with experimental data in the literature.
Topics: Action Potentials; Humans; Models, Biological; Pacinian Corpuscles; Physical Stimulation; Spatio-Temporal Analysis; Vibration
PubMed: 32065012
DOI: 10.1080/08990220.2020.1726739