title: Morphologic and immunohistochemical features of Merkel cells in the dog.
abstract: Merkel cells (MCs) are specialized skin receptors characterized by their particular location and close association with nerve terminals. They also are cells with a presumptive neuroendocrine function and are considered as part of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. By using commercially available monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies in samples of dog skin, MCs were properly distinguished from other clear cell types in the epidermis. They expressed cytokeratins 7, 8, 20, EpCAM, NSE, CGA, SYN, S100 protein, and NF, presented diverse cytological features and arrangements depending on the location considered, and showed pronounced heterogeneity with markedly different expression and distribution patterns for antibodies used. Anti-CK20 presented as the most reliable and specific antibody for their identification. The present study increases our knowledge of MCs and establishes a basis for future studies of the role(s) of the MCs in diseased tissues of the dog skin, including the cutaneous neuroendocrine (Merkel cell) tumour.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Institute for Animal Health, Veterinary College, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus Universitario Cardones, 45413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain. Electronic address: gramirez@becarios.ulpgc.es.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Unit of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Institute for Animal Health, Veterinary College, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus Universitario Cardones, 45413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Unit of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Institute for Animal Health, Veterinary College, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus Universitario Cardones, 45413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herráez
authors.affiliation: Unit of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Institute for Animal Health, Veterinary College, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus Universitario Cardones, 45413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suárez-Bonnet
authors.affiliation: Unit of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Institute for Animal Health, Veterinary College, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus Universitario Cardones, 45413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andrada
authors.affiliation: Unit of Histology and Veterinary Pathology, Institute for Animal Health, Veterinary College, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus Universitario Cardones, 45413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Espinosa-de-Los-Monteros
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007633:Keratins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018862:Merkel Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D007633:Keratins
keywords: Dog; Immunohistochemistry; Merkel cell; Neuroendocrine; Skin