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Specializations of plasma membranes in Pacinian corpuscles: Implications for mechano-electric transduction

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Journal of Neurocytology

Summary

Pacinian corpuscles of cat mesentery were studied with freeze-fracture and thin sectioning methods after chemical fixation.

Intramembranous particles (IMPs) exhibit differences in both density and pattern of distribution between the axolemma of the smooth short axis (x-axis) region and that of the axonal spine region of the long axis (y-axis) of the axon terminal. The axolemma of thex-axis has IMPs at a density of 2687±581 per μm2 (mean±S.E.M.), and these particles are 9.0±1.7 nm (mean ±S.D.) in diameter. In contrast, the axolemma of they-axis has a higher density of IMPs (3607±612 per μm2) which are larger (diameter, 10.0±1.7 nm). The particle distribution is not homogeneous inx-axis membranes as there are small patchy areas devoid of particles scattered throughout the entire surface. The E-face of the axolemma has a low density of IMPs (∼ 200 perμm2 in bothx- andy-axes). However, IMPs in the E-face are smaller (∼9nm) in thex-axis than in they-axis (∼10nm).

The inner core lamellar cells have IMPs at a density of 3276±739 per μm2 and 553±169 per μm2 in the P- and E-faces, respectively. The particles are about 10 nm in diameter in both faces. Many gap junctions occur between lamellar cells especially near the clefts, suggesting that hemilamellae of each inner core half are kept at the same electrotonic potential.

The outer core lamellar cells have IMPs at a density of 2239±403 per μm2 and 536±123 per μm2 in their P- and E-faces, respectively. The particles are approximately 10 nm in diameter in both faces. A noteworthy finding is that tight junctions are prominent at cell-to-cell appositions within individual lamellae, especially in the first and second (or sometimes third) innermost lamellae of the outer core. These tight junctions are considered to be a barrier to the leakage of fluid and/or ions between interlamellar spaces as well as between inner and outer cores.

An intermediate cell layer is identified between the inner and outer cores. The connective tissue space of this cell layer corresponds to the endoneurium, indicating that intermediate layer cells are comparable to endoneurial fibroblasts. These cells exhibit a low density of IMPs (658±119 per μm2 in the P-face) and particles are about 9 nm in diameter.

The above findings indicate that the plasmalemmata of the axon terminal of the inner and outer core cells are specialized in terms of content and distribution of IMPs. The difference in axolemmal IMPs between thex-axis and they-axis suggests that there is some separation of function in components of mechano-electric transduction between these two regions. In addition it can be assumed that the hemilamellae of each inner core half constitute an electrotonically coupled environment on each side of the axon terminal abutting thex-axis. Furthermore, the fluid of the inner core is completely segregated and probably different in composition from that of the outer core.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Iwate Medical University, School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan

    Chizuka Ide

  2. Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Iwate Medical University, School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan

    Shuichiro Hayashi

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  1. Chizuka Ide
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  2. Shuichiro Hayashi
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Ide, C., Hayashi, S. Specializations of plasma membranes in Pacinian corpuscles: Implications for mechano-electric transduction. J Neurocytol 16, 759–773 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01611984

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