Immunocytochemical evidence of a met-enkephalin-like substance in the dense-core granules of mouse Merkel cells.
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.
Chew
S B
SB
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T.
Leung
P Y
PY
D000818:Animals; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000032:analysis*; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D016501:Neurites / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012867:Skin / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine