Summary
The epithelial innervation of the snout of the pig was studied by electron microscopy. Subepithelial nerve endings were enveloped by cytoplasmic lamellae showing a basal lamina of varying thickness, and “fibrocytelike” cytoplasmic profiles uncovered by a basal lamina could be seen surrounding the subepithelial nerves. Pentalaminar “tight membrane junctions” were found between the epithelial basal cells and Schwann cells of the dermal nerves. The surface membrane of the basal cell was found adjacent to the “fibrocytelike” outer core cells of subepithelial bulbous corpuscles. These observations are in agreement with the reports by Oppenheimer et al and Fitzgerald with reaard to the growth and decay of dermal receptor organs as well as the proposed cytogenetical relationship between epithelial cells and those of the subepithelial receptor organs (Nafstad, 1971b). The genesis of peripheral Schwann and peripheral perineural cells is discussed.
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Nafstad, P.H.J. On the dermal innervation. Z. Anat. Entwickl. Gesch. 135, 337–349 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00519043
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00519043