Structural organization and pattern of innervations of human Meissner's corpuscle: a light microscopic study

Abstract

Background: Human glabrous skin has very rich nerve supply in the form of specialized nerve endings like Meissner's corpuscles, Pacinian corpuscles, Krause end bulbs etc for carrying sensory information to brain. Aim of study: To study the structure, pattern of innervations and nerve terminations of human Meissner's corpuscle. Methods: Skin samples from sixty human beings (age range 2 to 72 years) were taken, sections prepared and stained with a cytological (Haematoxylin-Eosin and Vongieson's stains) and a neural stain (Silver Impregnation). Results: With cytological stain, Meissner's corpuscles were seen in dermal papillae of glabrous skin, each consisting of a cellular structure having a peripheral capsule and central core of transversely arranged cells. With neural stain, each corpuscle was seen to be oval, globular or cylindrical structure, having a capsule surrounding the core of spirally arranged nerve fibers, sandwiched by Schwann cells. In between nerve fibers of the core were seen small bundles of collagen fibers. 2-6 nerve fibers innervated each Mc from the sub corial plexus of nerves and formed various patterns of nerve endings like networks, end bulbs and varicosities inside the Meissner's corpuscle. Conclusion: Meissner's corpuscle is a complex structure composed of capsule-consisting of spindle shaped capsular cells interspersed in collagen fibers, surrounding a core of helically arranged nerve fibers, Schwann cells and collagen fibers.

Bovine Meissner‐like corpuscle and evolutionary ecology of mammalian somatosensory acuity

“…The finding that the number of BMLCs declines with age is consistent with comparable results in human fingertip (Bhat et al, 2008;Miller et al, 1958;Ridley, 1969) Nava , 1985). The statistical analysis of the current study revealed a highly significant difference (p = 0.004) between the three age groups (Table 4).…”

“…The bovine Meissner-like corpuscle is the snout's most conspicuous and elaborate sensory corpuscle. It resembles the innominate corpuscles of moles described by Quilliam (1966) and the primate Meissner's corpuscles described by others (Bhat et al, 2008;Organ et al, 2011;Verendeev et al, 2015). Despite small interspecies diversity, all Rapidly adaptive low-threshold mechanoreceptors (RA1-LTMRs) linked corpuscles are believed to have evolved from a single ending with the same purpose in glabrous skin (Abraira & Ginty, 2013;Zimmerman, 2014).…”

“…Each MC has a capsule and a core. Previously, it was thought that the capsule of MCs is composed of papillary connective tissue and the fibroblasts in the capsule are of mesenchymal origin with supportive function (Bhat et al, 2008; Macintosh & Sinclair, 1978). However, with the advent of immunohistochemistry, it has been proved that the capsule of the MC is composed of fibroblasts of endoneurial origin.…”

“…The corial plexus of nerves innervate each corpuscle with 2–6 myelinated nerve fibres. The nerve fibres in the core ramify towards the epidermal pole, and on their way, these undergo modification to form nerve varicosities (thickenings), end bulbs and neurofibrillar networks (Abraira & Ginty, 2013; Bhat et al, 2008; Halata et al, 2003; Verendeev et al, 2015). Meissner corpuscles exist only in humans and primates, although Meissner‐like corpuscles have been described in several mammal species (Cobo et al, 2021).…”

“…A few animal models, including the human fingertip (Bhat et al, 2008; Cauna, 1969; García‐Piqueras et al, 2019; Verendeev et al, 2015), the pig (Fitzgerald, 1962), the rat (Macintosh & Sinclair, 1978) and the mouse (Mathewson & Nava, 1985), have been used to study the morphological and age variations in MCs. There is a shortage of literature on the distribution and comparative morphology of mammalian cutaneous end‐organ complexes, especially in non‐primate mammals.…”