Summary
The function of the Merkel cell (MC) is still enigmatic. Immunohistochemically, we investigated the localization of signal transduction proteins in MC-axon complexes. Axon terminals connected to MCs in the skin and oral mucosa of the rat and monkey showed positive immunoreactivities for Gαo, Gαi-1 and Gαs, whereas Gαi-, Gαo-, Gαq-, Gαs- and Gαz-like immunoreactions were localized on MCs of both animals. Since Gαq is known to couple with group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors and activate beta-type phospholipase C, we immunohistochemically investigated the localization of these substances in rat MCs. It was found that MCs express mGluR5-like immunoreactions. However, intensely positive immunoreactions for PLCß4 were found to be localized in type 1 sensory nerve terminals connected to MCs, but not in MCs themselves.
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Tachibana, T., Nawa, T. (2003). Localization of Signal Transduction Proteins in the Merkel Cell Axon Complex. In: Baumann, K.I., Halata, Z., Moll, I. (eds) The Merkel Cell. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-10358-6_23
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-10358-6_23
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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