Kabata Yudai, Orime Mari, Abe Riichiro, Ushiki Tatsuo
Division of Dermatology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Japan.
Microscopic Anatomy, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Japan.
Microscopy (Oxf). 2019 Jun 1;68(3):207-215. doi: 10.1093/jmicro/dfz001.
The touch domes of mammalian hairy skin are mechanoreceptors characterized by the accumulation of Merkel cell-neurite complexes at the epidermal base. In this study, we examined the shape, size, and density of the touch dome of human skin of the forearm and the abdomen through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Human skin samples were obtained from donated bodies, as well as a patient who underwent biopsy. Skin pieces were treated with a KOH-collagenase method for the separation of the epidermis from the dermis. The basal surface of the separated epidermis was then observed using SEM. The touch dome was clearly determined as a concave area bordered by a thick epidermal ridge, where neural components accumulated. The touch dome was rather independent from hair follicles, although they were sometimes located beside the touch dome. The average size and density of the touch dome were 0.06 mm2 and 3.82 cm2 in the forearm, and 0.10 mm2 and 1.30 cm2 in the abdomen, respectively. Our results suggested that the regional difference in size and density of the touch dome might be related to the sensation's sensitivity as touch spots in human hairy skin.
哺乳动物有毛皮肤的触觉小体是一种机械感受器，其特征是默克尔细胞 - 神经突复合体在表皮基部聚集。在本研究中，我们通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）检查了前臂和腹部人类皮肤触觉小体的形状、大小和密度。人类皮肤样本取自捐赠尸体以及一名接受活检的患者。皮肤切片采用氢氧化钾 - 胶原酶法处理，以分离表皮和真皮。然后使用扫描电子显微镜观察分离表皮的基底面。触觉小体被明确确定为一个由厚表皮嵴界定的凹陷区域，神经成分在此聚集。触觉小体与毛囊相当独立，尽管它们有时位于触觉小体旁边。前臂触觉小体的平均大小和密度分别为0.06平方毫米和3.82每平方厘米，腹部分别为0.10平方毫米和1.30每平方厘米。我们的结果表明，触觉小体大小和密度的区域差异可能与人类有毛皮肤中作为触觉点的感觉敏感性有关。
