title: Effect of ageing on tactile transduction processes.
abstract: With advancing age, a decline in the main sensory modalities including touch sensation and perception is well reported to occur. This review mainly outlines the peripheral components of touch perception highlighting ageing influences on morphological and functional features of cutaneous mechanical transducers and mechanosensitive ion channels, sensory innervation, neurotransmitters and even vascular system required to ensure efferent function of the afferent nerve fibres in the skin. This, in conjunction with effect of ageing on the skin per se and central nervous system, could explain the tactile deficit seen among the ageing population. We also discuss appropriate tools and experimental models available to study the age-related tactile decline.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tissue Biology and Therapeutic Engineering, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 5305, Lyon, France; University of Lyon 1, UMR 5305, Lyon, France. Electronic address: johannadecorps@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Decorps
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tissue Biology and Therapeutic Engineering, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 5305, Lyon, France; University of Lyon 1, UMR 5305, Lyon, France. Electronic address: jlsaumet@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jean Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Saumet
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tissue Biology and Therapeutic Engineering, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 5305, Lyon, France; University of Lyon 1, UMR 5305, Lyon, France. Electronic address: p.sommer@ibcp.fr.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tissue Biology and Therapeutic Engineering, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 5305, Lyon, France; University of Lyon 1, UMR 5305, Lyon, France. Electronic address: dominique.sigaudo-roussel@univ-lyon1.fr.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sigaudo-Roussel
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tissue Biology and Therapeutic Engineering, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 5305, Lyon, France; University of Lyon 1, UMR 5305, Lyon, France. Electronic address: berengere.fromy@univ-lyon1.fr.
authors.forename: Berengere
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fromy
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D051379:Mice; D008833:Microcirculation; D023421:Models, Animal; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011312:Pressure; D051381:Rats; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation*; D014110:Touch; D055698:Touch Perception
keywords: Animal models; Mechanosensitivity; Microcirculation; Sensory fibres; Skin; Touch