Merkel cells transduce and encode tactile stimuli to drive Aß-afferent impulses.
Cell
; 157(3): 664-75, 2014 Apr 24.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24746027
ABSTRACT
Sensory systems for detecting tactile stimuli have evolved from touch-sensing nerves in invertebrates to complicated tactile end organs in mammals. Merkel discs are tactile end organs consisting of Merkel cells and Aß-afferent nerve endings and are localized in fingertips, whisker hair follicles, and other touch-sensitive spots. Merkel discs transduce touch into slowly adapting impulses to enable tactile discrimination, but their transduction and encoding mechanisms remain unknown. Using rat whisker hair follicles, we show that Merkel cells rather than Aß-afferent nerve endings are primary sites of tactile transduction and identify the Piezo2 ion channel as the Merkel cell mechanical transducer. Piezo2 transduces tactile stimuli into Ca(2+)-action potentials in Merkel cells, which drive Aß-afferent nerve endings to fire slowly adapting impulses. We further demonstrate that Piezo2 and Ca(2+)-action potentials in Merkel cells are required for behavioral tactile responses. Our findings provide insights into how tactile end-organs function and have clinical implications for tactile dysfunctions.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Tato
/
Vibrissas
/
Células de Merkel
/
Canais Iônicos
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2014
Tipo de documento:
Article