Merkel Cells Are Essential for Light-touch Responses

Overview

Journal Science

Specialty Science

Date 2009 Jun 23

PMID 19541997

Citations 142

Authors

Stephen M Maricich

Scott A Wellnitz

Aislyn M Nelson

Daine R Lesniak

Gregory J Gerling

Ellen A Lumpkin

Huda Y Zoghbi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The peripheral nervous system detects different somatosensory stimuli, including pain, temperature, and touch. Merkel cell-neurite complexes are touch receptors composed of sensory afferents and Merkel cells. The role that Merkel cells play in light-touch responses has been the center of controversy for over 100 years. We used Cre-loxP technology to conditionally delete the transcription factor Atoh1 from the body skin and foot pads of mice. Merkel cells are absent from these areas in Atoh1(CKO) animals. Ex vivo skin/nerve preparations from Atoh1(CKO) animals demonstrate complete loss of the characteristic neurophysiologic responses normally mediated by Merkel cell-neurite complexes. Merkel cells are, therefore, required for the proper encoding of Merkel receptor responses, suggesting that these cells form an indispensible part of the somatosensory system.

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