Role of extrinsic mechanical force in the development of the RA-I tactile mechanoreceptor

Sci Rep. 2018 Jul 23;8(1):11085. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-29390-x.

Abstract

Rapidly adapting type I (RA-I) mechanoreceptors play an important role in sensing the low-frequency vibration aspects of touch. The structure of the RA-I mechanoreceptor is extremely complex regardless of its small size, limiting our understanding of its mechanotransduction. As a result of the emergence of bioengineering, we previously proposed an in vitro bioengineering approach for RA-I receptors to overcome this limitation. Currently, the in vitro bioengineering approach for the RA-I receptor is not realizable given the lack of knowledge of its morphogenesis. This paper demonstrates our first attempt to interpret the cellular morphogenesis of the RA-I receptor. We found indications of extrinsic mechanical force nearby the RA-I receptor in the developing fingertip. Using a mechanical compression device, the axon of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons buckled in vitro into a profile that resembled the morphology of the RA-I receptor. This work encourages further implementation of this bioengineering approach in tactile receptor-related research.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / metabolism
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Computer Simulation
  • Dermis / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fibrillar Collagens / metabolism
  • Ganglia, Spinal / metabolism
  • Mechanoreceptors / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Pregnancy
  • Touch / physiology*

Substances

  • Fibrillar Collagens