Summary
The electron-microscopic immunogold method was applied to Merkel cells of adult mice to demonstrate the subcellular localization of met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity. Post-embedding incubation with metenkephalin antisera showed that the gold particles were associated with the dense-core granules of the Merkel cells. The majority, but not all, of the dense-core granules were strongly labelled. Osmication caused a significant reduction in the number of gold particles on these granules. The nerve terminal associated with the Merkel cell did not show met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the ultrastructural localization of a positive met-enkephalin immunoreactivity in the dense-core granules of Merkel cells in mice.
Article PDF
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
De Mey J, Moreremans M, Geuens G, Nuydens R, De Brabander M (1981) High resolution light and electron microscopic localization of tubulin with the IGS (immuno gold staining) method. Cell Biol Int Rep 5:889–899
Gottschaldt KM, Vahle-Hinz C (1982) Evidence against transmitter function of met-enkephalin and chemosynaptic impulse generation in “Merkel cell” mechanoreceptors. Exp Brain Res 45:459–463
Gu J, Polak JM, Tapia FJ, Marangos PJ, Pearse AGE (1981) Neuron-specific enolase in the Merkel cells of mammalian skin. Am J Pathol 101:63–68
Hartschuh W, Weihe E, Buchler M, Helmstaedter V, Feurle GE, Forssman WG (1979) Met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in Merkel cells. Cell Tissue Res 201:343–348
Hartschuh W, Weihe E, Yanaihara N, Reinecke M (1983) Immunohistochemical localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in Merkel cells of various mammals: evidence for a neuromodulator function of the Merkel cell. J Invest Dermatol 81:361–364
Hartschuh W, Reinecke M, Weihe E, Yanaihara N (1984) VIP-immunoreactivity in the skin of various mammals: immunohistochemical, radioimmunological and experimental evidence for a dual localization in cutaneous nerves and Merkel cells. Peptides 5:239–245
Iggo A (1966) Cutaneous receptors with a high sensitivity to mechanical displacement. In: De Reuck AVS, Knight J (eds) Touch, heat and pain. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, pp 237–256
Merkel F (1875) Tastzellen und Tastkörperchen bei den Haustieren und beim Menschen. Arch Mikrosk Anat Entwicklungsmech 11:636–652
Romano EL, Stolinski C, Hughes-Jones NC (1974) An antiglobulin reagent labelled with colloidal gold for use in electron microscopy. Immunochemistry 11:521–522
Varndell IM, Tapia FJ, De Mey J, Rush RA, Bloom SR, Polak JM (1982) Electron immunocytochemical localization of enkephalin-like material in catecholamine-containing cells of the carotid body, the adrenal medulla, and in pheochromocytomas of man and other mammals. J Histochem Cytochem 30:682–690
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cheng Chew, S.B., Leung, P.Y. Immunocytochemical evidence of a met-enkephalin-like substance in the dense-core granules of mouse Merkel cells. Cell Tissue Res 265, 611–614 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00340885
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00340885