title: Terminal innervation of female genitalia, cutaneous sensory receptors of the epithelium of the labia minora.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little information is available regarding the sensory nerve endings within the glabrous skin of the external female genitalia. The diversity of possible sensations suggests a variety of receptor types. Comprehensive knowledge of the sensory stimuli, including stimulus position, changes in temperature, pressure and pain, is critical for addressing pain and sexual function disorders clinically. The aim of this neuro-histological study is document the presence and characteristics of cutaneous sensory receptors in female genital tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Labial skin samples were obtained from ten normal girls (aged 1-9 years). The specimens were waste tissue obtained during surgical intervention. They were all obtained by the senior investigator, a pediatric urologist, after the parent or legal guardian had given informed consent. The specimens were stained by Cajal-type silver impregnation and by immunocytochemistry against protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 and neuron-specific enolase (NSE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PGP 9.5 was the most sensitive neural marker for identifying cutaneous sensory receptors. Free nerve endings (FNEs) in the papillary dermis appeared as thin fibers, varicose, branched or single processed, straight or bent. In the labia minora, FNEs were identified in the strata basale, spinosum and granulosum of the epidermis. Non-capsulated (Meissner-like) corpuscles in the dermal papillae interdigitated with epidermal ridges of the skin. Capsulated corpuscles protruded from the deep dermis into the epidermis. Encapsulated corpuscles and cells located in the inner and outer cores were strongly positive for PGP 9.5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FNEs, Meissner's corpuscles and Pacinian corpuscles are present in the female labia minora and exhibit characteristic staining patterns.
authors: Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Rockefeller University, New York, New York; UPMC Hamot, Erie, Pennsylvania.
authors: Justine
authors: J
authors: Schober
authors: Nathan
authors: N
authors: Aardsma
authors: Lazarus
authors: L
authors: Mayoglou
authors: Donald
authors: D
authors: Pfaff
authors: Nieves
authors: N
authors: Martín-Alguacil
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004848:Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; 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; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation*; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D014844:Vulva / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: C482860:UCHL1 protein, human; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
keywords: cutaneous sensory receptors; epithelium; female genitalia; innervation; labia minora