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Abstract
Using Merkel cell specific antikeratin antibodies and neurofilament antibody the nerve-Merkel
cell relationship was studied with a double staining method on frozen sections. Merkel
cells were stained with monoclonal anti-cytokeratin CK-5 and CAM 5.2 which react against
human cytokeratin polypeptide 45 kDa and 52.5 kDa, respectively. Peripheral nerves
were stained with monoclonal murine antibody Neurofilament 70 and 200 kDa. Epidermal
Merkel cells were recognized in 12-week fetuses in the plantar skin. In 15-week fetuses
dermal Merkel cells were found. Most of the dermal Merkel cells initially lacked a
close association with immunoreactive nerve fibers. In 16-week fetuses immunoreactive
small nerves reached the epidermis and a few dermal Merkel cells became heavily entangled
with the meshwork of nerve endings. Nerve-Merkel cell complex in the dermis was confirmed
by electron microscopy. The appearance of epidermal Merkel cells preceded the attachment
of immunoreactive nerve endings to the epidermis. It an analysis of 448 dermal Merkel
cells the nerve-Merkel cell complex became more frequent as the age of fetus advanced.
It was concluded that Merkel cells do not arrive at the epidermis with peripheral
nerves. Rather, the peripheral nerves are attracted to the dermal Merkel cells which
originated in the epidermis.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
April 22,
1991
Received:
October 9,
1990
Footnotes
☆This work was presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology, May 1, 1990, Washington, D.C.
Identification
Copyright
© 1991 Published by Elsevier Inc.
