The morphology and distribution of Merkel cells in primate gingival mucosa

Turner, Dennis F.

doi:10.1002/ar.1092050210

Cited by 24 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The functional significance of this restricted innervation remains unclear. Although such epithelialridge-associated nerves have been shown to be mostly related to Merkel cells in the oral mucosa (Turner, 1983;Yeh and Byers, 1983), the present observations failed to find a Merkel cell-neurite complex inthis region. Anotherfeature ofthe sensoryinnervation ofthe OSE was the identification oftwo types ofvaricosities.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 93%

A Light and Electron Microscopic Anterograde WGA-HRP Tracing Study on the Sensory Innervation of Junctional and Sulcular Epithelium in the Rat Molar

et al. 1992

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The sensory innervation of junctional and oral sulcular epithelium was investigated by use of anterograde transport of wheat-germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase from the trigeminal ganglion. By light microscopy, labeled intra-epithelial nerve fibers were observed forming a dense plexus in the apical two-thirds of the junctional epithelium, with some fibers located near the enamel space. Occasional fibers extended coronally to the sulcus bottom. By electron microscopy, labeled intra-epithelial axon terminals or varicosities were demonstrated to be in close contact with both junctional epithelial cells and neutrophils. These varicosities, which were occasionally surrounded by the cytoplasmic processes of epithelial cells or neutrophils, frequently contained large granular and small clear vesicles. In contrast to the junctional epithelium, the oral sulcular epithelium was sparsely innervated, except for the transition region between the oral sulcular epithelium and the junctional epithelium, where a dense innervation by labeled intraepithelial fibers was found. These fibers extended as far as the stratum spinosum. Electron microscopy revealed mitochondria-filled profiles of varicosities between epithelial cells. This study shows differences in the distribution and ultrastructure of sensory nerves between the junctional and oral sulcular epithelia, and further provides morphological evidence that sensory nerves in the junctional epithelium come into contact not only with epithelial cells but also with neutrophils.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 93%

A Light and Electron Microscopic Anterograde WGA-HRP Tracing Study on the Sensory Innervation of Junctional and Sulcular Epithelium in the Rat Molar

et al. 1992

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“…Aimetti and colleagues found few Merkel cells in human gums with little innervation 61 . Others have found high densities of Merkel cells in human and primate gums 28 , 66 , 67 , but with sparse innervation. A possible explanation for these discrepancies could be sampling errors due to the tendency of Merkel cells to be localized in clusters 26 , or due to variations in the population due to age and injuries to the gums.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Somatosensory innervation of the oral mucosa of adult and aging mice

Moayedi

Duenas-Bianchi

Lumpkin

2018

Sci Rep

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Oral mechanoreception is implicated in fundamental functions including speech, food intake and swallowing; yet, the neuroanatomical substrates that encode mechanical stimuli are not well understood. Tactile perception is initiated by intricate mechanosensitive machinery involving dedicated cells and neurons. This signal transduction setup is coupled with the topology and mechanical properties of surrounding epithelium, thereby providing a sensitive and accurate system to detect stress fluctuations from the external environment. We mapped the distribution of anatomically distinct neuronal endings in mouse oral cavity using transgenic reporters, molecular markers and quantitative histomorphometry. We found that the tongue is equipped with an array of putative mechanoreceptors that express the principal mechanosensory channel Piezo2, including end bulbs of Krause innervating individual filiform papillae and a novel class of neuronal fibers innervating the epithelium surrounding taste buds. The hard palate and gums are densely populated with three classes of sensory afferents organized in discrete patterns including Merkel cell-neurite complexes, Meissner’s corpuscles and glomerular corpuscles. In aged mice, we find that palatal Merkel cells reduce in number at key time-points that correlate with impaired oral abilities, such as swallowing and mastication. Collectively, this work identifies the mechanosensory architecture of oral tissues involved in feeding.

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“…(1992), Schulze, Spaethe and Halata (1993), Tachibana et al . (1989, 1990, 1991), Tazaki, Saito and Sakada (1988), Toyoshima, Seta and Shimamura (1993), Turner (1983), Vallbo et al . (1979).…”

Section: Receptor Types In the Skin And In The Oral Mucosamentioning

confidence: 99%

Oral mucosal versus cutaneous sensory testing: a review of the literature

Jacobs

Goossens

et al. 2002

J of Oral Rehabilitation

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The innervation of skin and oral mucosa plays a major physiological role in exteroception. It also has a clinical interest as illustrated by sensory changes after neurosurgical procedures. These sensory changes often rely only on the patients' subjective reports, although objective assessments are possible. This review compares the neurophysiological features of the trigeminal sensory pathways with those of cutaneous sensory innervation. In this review, three receptor groups will be discussed: mechanoreceptors, thermoreceptors and nociceptors. Differences between receptors in the glabrous skin, the hairy skin and the oral mucosa will be highlighted. Sensory testing devices have been developed to quantify psychophysiological parameters such as the threshold level for receptor activation upon mechanical stimulation, but such devices have been merely developed to determine the threshold of skin receptors (tactile, thermal). Later on, some have been adapted to suit the particularities of the oral environment. This review attempts to compare the available literature on test devices for oral versus cutaneous tactile function. It summarizes what is common or rather particular to the devices used to study either cutaneous or oral receptors.

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The morphology and distribution of Merkel cells in primate gingival mucosa

Cited by 24 publications

References 20 publications

A Light and Electron Microscopic Anterograde WGA-HRP Tracing Study on the Sensory Innervation of Junctional and Sulcular Epithelium in the Rat Molar

A Light and Electron Microscopic Anterograde WGA-HRP Tracing Study on the Sensory Innervation of Junctional and Sulcular Epithelium in the Rat Molar

Somatosensory innervation of the oral mucosa of adult and aging mice

Oral mucosal versus cutaneous sensory testing: a review of the literature

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