Postnatal developmental changes in the expression of ErbB receptors in murine Pacinian cospucles

Neuregulins and their signaling ErbB receptors play a critical role during the development of the mammalian peripheral nervous system, including some kinds of mechanoreceptors such as the Pacinian corpuscles which become structurally and functionally mature postnatally. In this study, we investigated whether or not ErbBs in Pacinian corpuscles undergoes developmental changes, as well as if their expression depends on the innervation. Pacinian corpuscles from 7-day- and 3-month-old mice were assessed for the immunohistochemical detection of EGFR or ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3 and ErbB4. The effect of denervation on the expression of ErbBs in mature Pacinian corpuscles was also analyzed. Developing 7-day-old Pacinian corpuscles express ErbB2 and ErbB3 immunoreactivity in the inner-core (regarded as modified Schwann cells), whereas the mature 3-month-old Pacinian corpuscles exclusively displayed ErbB4 immunoreactivity in the outer core and the capsule (regarded as endoneurial and perineurial cells). Denervation was without effect on the ErbB expression. Present results demonstrate maturational related changes and cell segregation in the expression of ErbB receptors by murine Pacinian corpuscles, and that this expression is independent of the innervation.