Receptors and transporter for serotonin in Merkel cell-nerve endings in the rat sinus hair follicle. An immunohistochemical study

DOI Web Site PubMed 被引用文献3件 参考文献49件
  • Tachibana Tamiko
    Department of Oral Anatomy, Iwate Medical University School of Dentistry
  • Endoh Makoto
    Department of Oral Anatomy, Iwate Medical University School of Dentistry
  • Fujiwara Naoki
    Department of Oral Anatomy, Iwate Medical University School of Dentistry
  • Nawa Tokio
    Department of Oral Anatomy, Iwate Medical University School of Dentistry

この論文をさがす

抄録

Serotonin (5-HT) has been a candidate for neurotransmitters in cutaneous type I mechanoreceptors (i.e., Merkel cell-nerve endings). Although recent electrophysiological studies have suggested the presence of the 5-HT2 and 3 receptors in the Merkel cell-nerve endings, the histological localization of these receptors are obscure. We thus immunohistochemically examined the presence of 5-HT1, 2, 3 receptors in Merkel cell-nerve endings in sinus hair follicles of the rat whisker pad. We also studied the immunohistochemical localization of the 5-HT transporter to confirm the site of 5-HT secretion. For this purpose, we used antibodies for the 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C and 5-HT3 receptors, and for the 5-HT transporter, as well as antibodies for cytokeratin 20 (as a marker of Merkel cells) and neurofilament H (a marker of type I sensory nerve terminals). The immuno-stained sections were analyzed under a laser-scanning microscope. It was found that the sensory nerve terminals in the Merkel cell-nerve endings showed strong positive immunoreactions of 5-HT1A and 1B receptors but not 5-HT2A, 2C, and 3 receptors. Furthermore, both the Merkel cells and related axon terminals showed strong immunoreactions of the 5-HT transporter. These findings support the idea that 5-HT molecules are released from the Merkel cells during mechanical reception and indirectly regulate neural actions of sensory neurons via 5-HT1 receptors. The localization of the 5-HT transporter found in this study also suggests a possibility that axon terminals in the Merkel cell-nerve endings also release 5-HT.

収録刊行物

被引用文献 (3)*注記

もっと見る

参考文献 (49)*注記

もっと見る

キーワード

詳細情報 詳細情報について

問題の指摘

ページトップへ