Rodents rely on Merkel cells for texture discrimination tasks

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sensory Biology
• Cutaneous Somatosensation

Background:

• The cutaneous somatosensory system utilizes various mechanoreceptors to interpret touch.
• Merkel cell/neurite complexes are implicated in fine touch discrimination, including texture and shape detection.
• The necessity of Merkel cells for these sensory functions remains unconfirmed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the essential role of Merkel cells in sensory discrimination tasks.
• To determine if Merkel cell/neurite complexes are required for detecting texture, shape, and curvature.
• To compare sensory function in glabrous skin versus whiskers in Merkel cell-deficient mice.

Main Methods:

• Genetic engineering of mice lacking Merkel cells.
• Behavioral testing of sensory discrimination abilities (e.g., texture detection).
• Assessment of motor and general sensory functions to rule out confounding factors.

Main Results:

• Mice without Merkel cells exhibited deficits in detecting textured surfaces using their feet (glabrous skin).
• Other measures of motor and sensory function remained unaffected in these mice.
• Whiskers in Merkel cell-deficient mice retained the ability to discriminate texture and shape.

Conclusions:

• Merkel cell/neurite complexes are crucial for texture discrimination in glabrous skin.
• Alternative somatosensory afferents can compensate for Merkel cell function in whiskers.
• This suggests a specialized role for Merkel cells in specific sensory organs and tasks.