title: Terminal innervation of the male genitalia, cutaneous sensory receptors of the male foreskin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Understanding the types of sensory nerve termini within the glabrous skin of the human male foreskin could throw light on surgical outcomes and therapeutic possibilities for the future. Various receptor types sense changes in temperature, position, pressure, pain, light touch, itch, burning and pleasurable sexual sensations. Similarities and differences in innervation characteristics and density might become apparent when the glans penis is compared with homologous structures in the female genitalia. The aim of this study is to document the presence and characteristics of cutaneous sensory receptors in the human penile foreskin using a histopathological study of the nerve termini to achieve a more complete understanding of sensory experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Foreskin samples were obtained from ten boys (aged 1-9 years) who had undergone circumcision. Informed consent was obtained from the parent/legal guardian. The samples were examined after modified Bielschowsky silver impregnation of neural tissue, and immunocytochemistry against gene protein product (PGP) 9.5 and neuron-specific enolase (NSE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PGP 9.5 appeared to be the most sensitive neural marker. Free nerve endings were identified in the papillary dermis visualized as thin fibers, mostly varicose, with either branched or single processes, either straight or bent. Two types of sensory corpuscle were identified: capsulated and non-capsulated. Meissner-like corpuscles were located in the papillary dermis. Capsulated corpuscles resembled typical Pacinian corpuscles, comprising a single central axon surrounded by non-neural periaxonic cells and lamellae. The capsulated corpuscles were strongly positive for PGP 9.5 and NSE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Free nerve endings, Meissner's corpuscles and Pacinian corpuscles are present in the human male foreskin and exhibit characteristic staining patterns.
authors: Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Rockefeller University, New York, New York; Department of Anatomy and Embryology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Nieves
authors: N
authors: Martín-Alguacil
authors: R Scott
authors: RS
authors: Cooper
authors: Nathan
authors: N
authors: Aardsma
authors: Lazarus
authors: L
authors: Mayoglou
authors: Donald
authors: D
authors: Pfaff
authors: Justine
authors: J
authors: Schober
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002944:Circumcision, Male; D052816:Foreskin / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010141:Pacinian Corpuscles / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C482860:UCHL1 protein, human; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
keywords: cutaneous sensory receptors; innervation; male foreskin; male genitalia