title: Quantitative analysis of development and aging of genital corpuscles in glans penis of the rat.
abstract: The aim of the present postnatal developmental study was to determine densities of unique genital corpuscles (GCs) in glans penis of developing and aged rats. GCs were identified as corpuscular endings consisting of highly branched and coiled axons with many varicosities, which were immunoreactive for protein gene product 9.5. In addition, GCs were immunoreactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P, but not for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and neuropeptide Y. GCs were not found in the glans penis of 1 week old rats. Densities of GCs were low at 3 weeks, significantly increased at 5 and 10 weeks, reached the peak of density at 40 weeks, and tended to decrease at 70 and 100 weeks. Sizes of GCs were small in 3 weeks old rats, increased at 5 and 10 weeks, reached the peak-size at 40 weeks and reduced in size at 70 and 100 weeks. Considering sexual maturation of the rat, the results reveal that GCs of the rat begins to develop postnatal and reaches to the peak of their development after puberty and continues to exist until old age, in contrast to prenatal and early postnatal development of other sensory receptors of glabrous skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Toho University School of Medicine, Omori-nishi 5-21-16, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8540, Japan.
authors.forename: Mizuho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiino
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Toho University School of Medicine, Omori-nishi 5-21-16, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8540, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Toho University School of Medicine, Omori-nishi 5-21-16, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8540, Japan. Electronic address: tomokazu.kawashima@med.toho-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tomokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Toho University School of Medicine, Omori-nishi 5-21-16, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8540, Japan.
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Toho University School of Medicine, Omori-nishi 5-21-16, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8540, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takayanagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Toho University School of Medicine, Omori-nishi 5-21-16, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8540, Japan.
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Toho University School of Medicine, Omori-nishi 5-21-16, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8540, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Toho University School of Medicine, Omori-nishi 5-21-16, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8540, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D010413:Penis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
keywords: Density of genital corpuscle; Development after puberty; Glans penis of the rat; PGP 9.5-positive-nerve fivers; Sex hormone; Sexual maturation