Ultrastructural characterization of normal Merkel cells in the dog. Issue 5 (14th July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ramírez, Gustavo A.; Rodríguez, Francisco; Herráez, Pedro; Castro‐Alonso, Ayoze; Andrada, Marisa; Espinosa‐de‐los‐Monteros, Antonio
• Is Part Of: Veterinary dermatology. Volume 26:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 328
• Page End: e69
• Publication Date: 2015-07-14
• Subjects: Veterinary dermatology -- Periodicals; Pet medicine -- Periodicals; 636.08965
• DOI: 10.1111/vde.12230
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-4493

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="vde12230-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="vde12230-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Involvement of Merkel cells (MKs) in different cutaneous diseases as well as in the growth, differentiation and homeostasis of the skin has been previously documented.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12230-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Hypothesis/Objectives</title> <p>The aim was to assess the ultrastructural features of MKs in canine skin, including morphometrics, highlighting their similarities with and differences from those described for other mammals.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12230-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Animals</title> <p>Hard palate, nasal planum, lower lip and whisker pad samples were taken from two healthy young dogs destined for academic purposes.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12230-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Ultrathin sections of samples fixed in osmium tetroxide and embedded in Epon 812 resin were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and examined using a JEOL JEM 2010 transmission electron microscope.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12230-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Ultrastructural characteristics included the following: (i) arrangement in clusters in the basal layer of the epidermis, oral mucosa and external follicular root sheath; (ii) inconstant link with nerve terminal; (iii) oval (10.27 ± 1.64 μm major axis) cell shape with large lobulated nuclei (5.98 ± 1.16 μm major axis); (iv) spine‐like and thick cytoplasmic processes interdigitating with surrounding keratinocytes; (v) presence of desmosomes in the cell body or at the base of spine‐like processes attaching to neighbouring keratinocytes; and (vi) cytoplasm containing loosely arranged intermediate filaments (10.04 ± 1.17 nm) and numerous dense‐core granules (100.1 ± 17.12 nm) arranged in the basal portion of the cytoplasm.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12230-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions and clinical importance</title> <p>This study provides the first complete description of the ultrastructural characteristics of MKs in the dog, enhancing our knowledge of the skin structure in this species and providing a basis for future physiological and pathological studies of the role of these cells in normal and damaged canine tissues.</p> </sec> </abstract>