A study of the mucosal Merkel cells from 10 patients showed that the cell contained an intranuclear rodlet, clear cell qualities, fine desmosomes, characteristic membrane-bound Merkel granules, and cellular "horns" and had a close relationship to terminal axons. The Merkel cell is an intraepithelial cell with features of neurons and of amine-storage cells.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Merkel, F.: Tastzellen und Tastkorperchen bei den Hausthieren und biem Menschen , Arch Microbiol Anat11 : 636-652, 1875.
2.
Merkel, F.S. : Ueber die Endigungen der sensiblen Nerven in der Haut der Wirbelthiere, Rostock: H. Schmidt, 1880.
3.
WINKELMANN, R.K.: Nerve Endings in Normal and Pathologic Skin: Contributions to the Anatomy of Sensation, Springfield, Ill.; Charles C Thomas, Publisher, 1960. 4. IGGO, A., and MuIR, A.R.: The Structure and Function of a Slowly Adapting Touch Corpuscle in Hairy Skin, J Physiol (Paris) 200:763-796, 1969.
4.
Winkelmann, R.K., and Breathnach , A.S.: The Merkel Cell, J Invest Dermatol60:2-15, 1973.
5.
Fortman, G.J. : Ultrastructure of the Merkel Cell in Human Oral Mucosa, Thesis,
6.
Mayo Graduate School of Medicine (University of Minnesota), Rochester, 1974.
7.
Nikai, H.; Rose, G.G. ; and Cattoni, M.: Merkel Cell in Human and Rat Gingiva, Arch Oral Biol16:835-843, 1971.
8.
Hashimoto, K. : The Fine Structure of the Merkel Cell in Human Oral Mucosa, J Invest Dermatol58:381-387, 1972.
9.
Suzuki, H., and Kurosumi, K.: Fine Structure of the Cutaneous Nerve Endings in the Mole Snout, Arch Histol Jap34:35-50, 1972.
10.
Smith, K.R. , JR.: The Ultrastructure of the Haarscheibe and Merkel Cell, J Invest Dermatol54:150-159, 1970.
11.
Saxod, R.: Etude au microscope electronique de l'histogenese du corpuscle sensoriel cutane de Grandry chez le Canard, J Ultrastruct Res32:477-496, 1970.
12.
Andres, K.H. : Uber die Feinstruktur der Reszeptoren an Sinushaaren , Z Zellforsch Mikr Anat75:339-365, 1966.
13.
Halata, Z.: Zu den Nervenendigungen (Mirkelsche Endigungen) in der Haarlosen Nasenhaut der Katze, Z Zellforsch Mikr Anat106:51-60, 1970.
14.
Lyne, A.G., and Hollis, D.E.: Merkel Cells in Sheep Epidermis During Fetal Development, J Ultrastruct Res34:464-472, 1971. 15. PEDERSON, G.T., and WINKELMANN, R.K.: Unpublished data.
15.
Mustakallio, K.K., and Kiistala , U.: Electron Microscopy of Merkel's "Tastzelle," a Potential Monoamine Storing Cell of Human Epidermis , Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh)47:323-326, 1967.
16.
Fortman, G.J. , and Winkelmann , R.K.: A Merkel Cell Nuclear Inclusion , J Invest Dermatol61:334-338, 1973.
17.
Straile, W.E. ; Tipnis, U.R.; Mann , S.J.; and Clark, W.H., JR.: Lattice and Rodlet Nuclear Inclusions in Merkel Cell in Rabbit Epidermis, J Invest Dermatol64:178-183, 1975.
18.
Brody, I.: The Ultrastructure of the Epidermis in Psoriasis Vulgaris as Revealed by Electron Microscopy, J Ultrastruct Res6: 304-367, 1962.
19.
Watson, M.L. : Observations on a Granule Associated with Chromatin in the Nuclei of Cells of Rat and Mouse, J Cell Biol13 :162-167, 1962.
20.
Weber, A.F. ; Whipp, S.C.; and Usenik, E.A.: Studies of the Occurrence, Ultrastructure, and Physiological Significance of the Nuclear Body in the Ox (abstract), J Cell Biol19:73A, 1963 .
21.
Weber, A.F. , and Frommes, S.P.: Nuclear Bodies: Their Prevalence, Location, and Ultrastructure in the Calf, Science141 :912-913, 1963.
22.
Jones, A.L. , and Fawcett, D.W.: Hypertrophy of the Agranular Endoplasmic Reticulum in Hamster Liver Induced by Phenobarbital, J Histochem Cytochem14:215-232, 1966.
23.
Horstmann, E. ; Richter, R.; and Roosen-Runge , E.: Zur Elektronenmikroskopie der Kerneinschlüsse im Menschlichen Nebenhodenepithel, Z Zellforsch Mikr Anat69: 69-79, 1966.
24.
Krishan, A. ; Uzman, B.G.; and Healey-Whyte , E.T.: Nuclear Bodies: A Component of Cell Nuclei in Hamster Tissues and Human Tumors, J Ultrastruct Res19 :563-572, 1967.
25.
ROBERTSON, D.M., and MACLEAN, J.D.: Nuclear Inclusions in Malignant Gliomas, Arch Neurol (Chicago) 13:287-296, 1965. 27. ROBERTSON, D.M.: Electron Microscopic Studies of Nuclear Inclusions in Meningiomas, Am J Pathol 45:835-848, 1964.
26.
Tani, E.; Ametani, T.; Kawamura, Y.; and Handa, H.: Nuclear Structures of Primary Malignant Lymphoma in the Brain, Cancer24:617-624, 1969.
27.
Bernhard, W. , and Granboulan , N.: The Fine Structure of the Cancer Cell Nucleus , Exp Cell Res Suppl9:19-53, 1963.
28.
Bencosme, S.A. ; Allen, R.A.; and Latta, H.: Functioning Pancreatic Islet Cell Tumors Studied Electron Microscopically, Am J Pathol42:1-21, 1963.
29.
Willey, T.J. , and Schultz, R.L.: Intranuclear Inclusions in Neurons of the Cat Primary Olfactory System, Brain Res29:31-45, 1971.
30.
Chandler, R.L. : Intranuclear Structures in Neurons, Nature209:1260-1261, 1966.
31.
CoLONNIER, M.: On the Nature of Intranuclear Rods, J Cell Biol 25:646-653, 1965. 34. KIM, S.U.; MASUROVSKY, E.B.; BENITEZ, H.H.; and MURRAY, M.R.: Histochemical Studies of the Intranuclear Rodlet in Neurons of Chicken Sympathetic and Sensory Ganglia, Histochemistry 24:33-40, 1970. 35. MASUROVSKY, E.B.; BENITEZ, H.H.; KiM, S.U.; and MURRAY, M.R.: Origin, Development, and Nature of Intranuclear Rodlets and Associated Bodies in Chicken Sympathetic Neurons, J Cell Biol 44:172-191, 1970.
