Endoneurial-CD34 positive cells define an intermediate layer in human digital Pacinian corpuscles

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Histology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• The cellular origin of the outer core in human Pacinian corpuscles remains debated.
• Understanding the distinct compartments of Pacinian corpuscles is crucial for neuroscience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cellular origin of the outer core in human digital Pacinian corpuscles.
• To differentiate between endoneurial and perineurial contributions to Pacinian corpuscle structure.

Main Methods:

• Utilized immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies against perineurial (Glucose transporter 1, epithelial membrane antigen) and endoneurial (CD34 antigen) markers.
• Examined human digital Pacinian corpuscles to analyze marker expression patterns.

Main Results:

• CD34 immunoreactivity, an endoneurial marker, was observed in a layer adjacent to the inner core.
• The outer core of Pacinian corpuscles exhibited antigens characteristic of perineurial cells.
• These findings reveal an intermediate endoneurial layer, dividing the corpuscle into distinct neural and non-neural compartments.

Conclusions:

• Human Pacinian corpuscles possess a distinct intermediate endoneurial layer.
• This layer separates the avascular inner neural compartment from the outer non-neural compartment.
• The functional significance of this structural organization requires further investigation.