Selective phototoxic destruction of rat Merkel cells abolishes responses of slowly adapting type I mechanoreceptor units.

Epidermal progenitors give rise to Merkel cells during embryonic development and adult homeostasis

“…An electrophysiological study demonstrated that MCs are excitable cells (Yamashita et al, 1992) that express voltagegated channels, inducing calcium influx in response to depolarization (Haeberle et al, 2004). Selective destruction of MCs by photoablation (Ikeda et al, 1994) or their loss in mice genetically deficient for MCs (Maricich et al, 2009) abolishes responses of slowly adapting type I mechanoreceptor units, which is consistent with the requirement of MCs to mediate slow adapting mechanotransduction in the skin. M erkel cells (MCs) are located in the touch-sensitive area of the epidermis and mediate mechanotransduction in the skin.…”

Molecular profiling reveals synaptic release machinery in Merkel cells

“…For example, removing Merkel cells by enzymatic treatment, photoablation, or genetic modification abolished the responses of slowly adapting afferents in some studies (14,15), but not in others (16). Reports of the involvement of synaptic transmission in slowly adapting type I responses are likewise contradictory (12,17).…”

“…Total RNA from 1-2 ϫ 10 4 sorted cells served as the template for reverse transcription. First-strand cDNA was synthesized with oligo(dT) [12][13][14][15][16][17][18] primers at 42°C for 2 h using SuperScriptII (Invitrogen). PCR products were amplified with touchdown PCR; 1͞100-1͞20 of a reverse transcription reaction was used for each PCR.…”

Diversification and Specialization of Touch Receptors in Skin

“…Attempts to remove Merkel cells via photoablation or enzymatic digestion have produced conflicting results, with loss of SA touch responses in some studies but not others (Diamond et al 1988;Ikeda et al 1994;Mills and Diamond 1995;Senok et al 1996a,b). Because it is difficult to completely ablate Merkel cells without also damaging sensory terminals with these methods, other groups have turned to transgenic approaches.…”