Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Anatomy logoLink to Journal of Anatomy
. 1980 Aug;131(Pt 1):145–155.

Merkel cell differentiation in the labial mucous epithelium of the rabbit.

T Tachibana, T Nawa
PMCID: PMC1233293  PMID: 7440398

Abstract

To clarify the relation between the so-called 'transitional' cell and the Merkel cell, the frequency of these cells in the labial mucosal epithelium was compared between infant, juvenile and adult rabbits. The transitional cell was observed in serial ultrathin sections. Transitional cells were most numerous in the infant and juvenile, while the definitive Merkel cell showed a reciprocal increase in number. In the infant and juvenile, the transitional cells differed slightly from each other in their ultrastructure: some resembled immature keratinocytes, others resembled definitive Merkel cells. All transitional cells contained the Merkel cell granules and the intranuclear rodlet. It was interpreted that the Merkel cell in the labial mucous epithelium develops from the transitional cell. Neither definitive Merkel cells not transitional cells were identified in the lamina propria. The present circumstantial evidence favours the hypothesis that Merkel cells differentiate from precursors in the basal layer of the epithelium.

Full text

PDF
148

Images in this article

146Fig. 1
on p.146
146Fig. 2
on p.146
146Fig. 3
on p.146
148Fig. 4
on p.148
148Fig. 5
on p.148
149Fig. 6
on p.149
149Fig. 7
on p.149
151Fig. 8
on p.151
151Fig. 9
on p.151
152Fig. 10
on p.152
152Fig. 11
on p.152
152Fig. 12
on p.152

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Breathnach A. S., Robins J. Ultrastructural observations on Merkel cells in human foetal skin. J Anat. 1970 Mar;106(Pt 2):411–411. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Breathnach A. S. The Herman Beerman lecture: embryology of human skin, a review of ultrastructural studies. J Invest Dermatol. 1971 Sep;57(3):133–143. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12261482. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Budtz P. E., Larsen L. O. Structure of the toad epidermis during the moulting cycle. II. Electron microscopic observations on Bufo bufo (L.). Cell Tissue Res. 1975 Jun 24;159(4):459–483. doi: 10.1007/BF00221703. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. English K. B. Cell types in cutaneous type I mechanoreceptors (Haarscheiben) and their alterations with injury. Am J Anat. 1974 Sep;141(1):105–126. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001410107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. English K. B. The ultrastructure of cutaneous type I mechanoreceptors (Haarscheiben) in cats following denervation. J Comp Neurol. 1977 Mar 1;172(1):137–163. doi: 10.1002/cne.901720107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Fortman G. J., Winkelmann R. K. A Merkel cell nuclear inclusion. J Invest Dermatol. 1973 Dec;61(6):334–338. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12676616. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Fortman G. J., Winkelmann R. K. The Merkel cell in oral human mucosa. J Dent Res. 1977 Nov;56(11):1303–1312. doi: 10.1177/00220345770560110201. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hashimoto K. Fine structure of Merkel cell in human oral mucosa. J Invest Dermatol. 1972 Jun;58(6):381–387. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12540607. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hashimoto K. The ultrastructure of the skin of human embryos. X. Merkel tactile cells in the finger and nail. J Anat. 1972 Jan;111(Pt 1):99–120. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Iggo A., Muir A. R. The structure and function of a slowly adapting touch corpuscle in hairy skin. J Physiol. 1969 Feb;200(3):763–796. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1969.sp008721. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Kurosumi K., Kurosumi U., Suzuki H. Fine structures of Merkel cells and associated nerve fibers in the epidermis of certain mammalian species. Arch Histol Jpn. 1969 Apr;30(3):295–313. doi: 10.1679/aohc1950.30.295. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Lyne A. G., Hollis D. E. Merkel cells in sheep epidermis during fetal development. J Ultrastruct Res. 1971 Mar;34(5):464–472. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(71)80059-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Munger B. L. Neural-epithelial interactions in sensory receptors. J Invest Dermatol. 1977 Jul;69(1):27–40. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12497861. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Munger B. L. The intraepidermal innervation of the snout skin of the opossum. A light and electron microscope study, with observations on the nature of Merkel's Tastzellen. J Cell Biol. 1965 Jul;26(1):79–97. doi: 10.1083/jcb.26.1.79. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Nafstad P. H. Comparative ultrastructural study on Merkel cells and dermal basal cells in poultry (Gallus domesticus). Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1971;116(3):342–348. doi: 10.1007/BF00330632. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Nafstad P. H. On the ultrastructure of neuro-epithelial interactions. The dermal innervation in the snout of the pig. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1971;122(4):528–537. doi: 10.1007/BF00936086. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Saxod R. Ultrastructure of Merkel corpuscles and so-called "transitional" cells in the white Leghorn chicken. Am J Anat. 1978 Apr;151(4):453–473. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001510402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Smith K. R., Jr The structure and function of the Haarscheibe. J Comp Neurol. 1967 Dec;131(4):459–474. doi: 10.1002/cne.901310406. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Straile W. E., Tipnis U. R., Mann S. J., Clark W. H., Jr Lattice and rodlet nuclear inclusions in Merkel cells in rabbit epidermis. J Invest Dermatol. 1975 Mar;64(3):178–183. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12533346. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Tachibana T. The Merkel cell in the labial ridge epidermis of the anuran tadpole. II. Electron microscope observations on the appearance and differentiation of the Merkel cell. Arch Histol Jpn. 1979 Apr;42(2):129–140. doi: 10.1679/aohc1950.42.129. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Winkelmann R. K., Breathnach A. S. The Merkel cell. J Invest Dermatol. 1973 Jan;60(1):2–15. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep13069480. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Winkelmann R. K. The Merkel cell system and a comparison between it and the neurosecretory or APUD cell system. J Invest Dermatol. 1977 Jul;69(1):41–46. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12497864. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Anatomy are provided here courtesy of Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

RESOURCES