The anatomy, function, and development of mammalian Aβ low-threshold mechanoreceptors  

作　　者：Michael S. FLEMING Wenqin LUO 

机构地区：[1]Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19014, USA

出　　处：《Frontiers in Biology》2013年第4期408-420,共13页生物学前沿（英文版）

摘　　要：t Touch sensation is critical for our social and environmental interactions. In mammals, most discriminative light touch sensation is mediated by the Aβ low-threshold mechanoreceptors. Cell bodies of Aβ low-threshold mechanoreceptors are located in the dorsal root ganglia and trigeminal ganglia, which extend a central projection innervating the spinal cord and brain stem and a peripheral projection innervating the specialized mechanosensory end organs. These specialized mechanosensory end organs include Meissner＇s corpuscles, Pacinian corpuscles, lanceolate endings, Merkel cells, and Ruffini corpuscles. The morphologies and physiological properties of these mechanosensory end organs and their innervating neurons have been investigated for over a century. In addition, recent advances in mouse genetics have enabled the identification of molecular mechanisms underlying the development of Aβ low- threshold mechanoreceptors, which highlight the crucial roles of neurotrophic factor signaling and transcription factor activity in this process. Here, we will review the anatomy, physiological properties, and development of mammalian low- threshold Aβ mechanoreceptors.

关 键 词：MECHANORECEPTOR Meissner＇s corpuscle Pacinian corpuscle lanceolate ending Merkel cell Ruffini corpuscle dorsal root ganglion 

分 类 号：Q969.250.7[生物学—昆虫学] Q959.8