Mesenteric and tactile Pacinian corpuscles are anatomically and physiologically comparable

Abstract

Pacinian corpuscles (PCs) in cat mesentery have been studied extensively to help determine the structural and functional bases of tactile mechanotransduction. Although we, like many other investigators, have found that the mesenteric receptors are anatomically very similar to those found in mammalian skin, few physiological characteristics of the mesenteric PCs and those of the skin have been compared. Action-potential rate-amplitude and frequency characteristics (10 Hz-1 KHz), as well as interval (IH) and peri-stimulus-time (PSTH) histograms in response to sinusoidal displacements were obtained from nerve fibers innervating mesenteric PCs and from PC fibers innervating cat glabrous skin. The intensity characteristics obtained on both preparations showed similar response profiles, including equal slopes for low stimulus intensities (approximately 10, with impulse ratios/20 dB displacement) and one and two impulse/cycle entrainment. The frequency characteristics of both groups were U-shaped with similar low-frequency slopes (-12.5 dB/octave) and bandwidths (Q(3dB) = 1.4). The best frequency for both the tactile PCs' and mesenteric PCs was 250 Hz, which is in the expected range. The IHs showed entrainment and the PSTHs showed neither transient responses nor adaptation to steady-state sinusoidal stimuli. The functional similarity between mesenteric PCs' nerve responses and those of tactile PC afferents, as well as the receptors' anatomical similarity, lead us to suggest that the mesenteric PC can act as a model for those in the skin. Furthermore, since the frequency characteristics of the two PC types are similar, it is concluded that the skin, while attenuating stimulus intensity, does not impart temporal filtering of vibratory stimuli.

Pacinian Corpuscles in Human Lymph Nodes

“…They showed variable relative size of the main corpuscular constituent (inner core and outer core‐capsule), but were similar structurally. Moreover, the immunohistochemical profile of all four corpuscles examined was identical, and roughly matched that of Pacinian corpuscles in other body localizations (see Vega et al, ), confirming the Pawson et al opinion that the structure of Pacinian corpuscles is identical independent of their anatomical location (Pawson et al, ).…”

“…The Pacinian corpuscles function as rapidly adapting low‐threshold mechanoreceptors (Li et al, ; Fleming and Luo, ), that primarily detect gross pressure changes and vibrations (Johnson, ; Zimmerman et al, ). Interestingly the structure and physiology of Pacinian corpuscles is independent of their anatomical localization (Pawson et al, ). The protein composition of Pacinian corpuscles is now rather well known (Vega et al, ; Pawson et al, ).…”

Differential Localization of Acid-Sensing Ion Channels 1 and 2 in Human Cutaneus Pacinian Corpuscles

“…When these images were overlapped (c, f, g, j, k) and observed at higher magnification, we failed to see colocalization of ASIC2 and RT-97. These results support the conclusion that ASIC2 is expressed in some Schwann cells, but not in the axon of Pacinian corpuscles of their anatomical localization (Pawson et al 2008). Pacinian corpuscles are innervated by myelinated Aa-b axons from large-and intermediate-sized sensory neurons in the DRG (Perl 1992).…”

Brain‐Derived Neurotrofic Factor and its Receptor TrkB are Present, but Segregated, Within Mature Cutaneous Pacinian Corpuscles of Macaca fascicularis

“…They detect gross pressure changes and vibrations (Johnson, ). Interestingly, the structure and physiology of Pacinian corpuscles is independent of their anatomical localization (Pawson et al, ).…”