Membrane heterogeneity in sensory receptors of rat vibrissae: Merkel receptors differ from other nerve endings.
The cupric/ferrocyanide reaction was used to analyse cation-binding sites in rat vibrissae. The heminode of the last myelinated segment had moderate staining. No staining of any complex receptor was found except for Merkel receptors. Both the Merkel cell and associated nerve ending were stained except for their apposed cell membranes, suggesting either reciprocal membrane specialization at that site, or prevention of cupric/ferrocyanide penetration into the space between the two cells.
Byers
M R
MR
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Costello
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper; D005295:Ferrocyanides; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D005295:Ferrocyanides; D003300:Copper; C020354:hexacyanoferrate II