Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multiple axon terminals in reinnervated Pacinian corpuscles of adult rat

  • Published:
Journal of Neurocytology

Summary

The ultrastructure of Pacinian corpuscles localized beneath the crural interosseous membrane was examined two weeks to 18 months after crushing the sciatic nerve in adult rats. The Pacinian inner core and capsule remained preserved during the transient period of denervation. Regenerating axons reached Pacinian corpuscles approximately three weeks after nerve crush. Up to 15 axonal sprouts entered a single corpuscle at the initial stage of reinnervation, but only 1–3 axons increased in size, myelinated and formed axon terminals in the inner core, the excess sprouts being eliminated. Most corpuscles of the crural group were reinnervated by the end of the first month.

Three to 19 months after nerve crush, 10% of corpuscles examined were found to be monoaxonal and monoterminal as before the operation; 74% contained multiple terminals; 16% remained denervated. Over half the multiterminal corpuscles were supplied with a single myelinated axon that branched inside the corpuscles; the rest received two or three myelinated axons which formed several terminals. The terminals were distributed at random, usually in the axial region between the lamellae of the inner core. They were cylindrical, with an oval profile; the larger terminals were filled with mitochondria and microtubules at their circumference and contained a core of neurofilaments. Lateral processes of the terminals were filled with vesicles and had membrane specializations as in normal corpuscles. The mean number of terminals in reinnervated corpuscles was 4.07 ± 0.37 (S.E.M.) at three months, and 3.26 ± 0.49 (S.E.M.) 6–18 months after nerve crush. This small decrease was apparently the result of degeneration occasionally observed in some axon terminals at later stages of reinnervation.

These experiments thus demonstrate that most rat Pacinian corpuscles become reinnervated with multiple terminals after nerve injury and maintain multiterminal innervation permanently.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barker, D. &Boddy, A. (1980) Reinnervation of stretch receptors in cat muscle after nerve crush. InOntogenesis and Functional Mechanisms of Peripheral Synapses (edited byTaxi, J.), pp. 251–70. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, M. C. &Butler, R. G. (1976) Regeneration of afferent and efferent fibres to muscle spindles after nerve injury in adult cats.Journal of Physiology 260, 253–66.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, P. R., English, K. B., Horch, K. W. &Stensaas, L. J. (1974) Patterning in the regeneration of Type I cutaneous receptors.Journal of Physiology 236, 57–82.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, P. R. &Horch, K. W. (1973) Specific regeneration of cutaneous fibres in the cat.Journal of Neurophysiology 36, 101–14.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chouchkov, C. (1971) Ultrastructure of Pacinian corpuscles after the section of nerve fibres.Zeitschrift für mikroskopisch-anatomische Forschung 83, 33–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chouchkov, C. (1979a) Degeneration and regeneration of some mechanoreceptors. An ultra-structural study. III. Ultrastructure of reinnervated Herbst corpuscles.Zeitschrift für mikroskopisch-anatomische Forschung 93, 425–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chouchkov, C. (1979b) Degeneration and regeneration of some mechanoreceptors. An ultrastructural study. IV. Ultrastructure of reinnervated Pacinian corpuscles.Zeitschrift für mikroskopisch-anatomische Forschung 93, 433–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dellon, A. L. (1976) Reinnervation of denervated Meissner corpuscles: a sequential histologic study in the monkey following fascicular nerve repair.Journal of Hand Surgery 1, 98–109.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Devor, M. &Govrin-Lippmann, R. (1979) Selective regeneration of sensory fibres following nerve crush injury.Experimental Neurology 65, 243–54.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, J. (1982) The patterning of neuronal connections.American Zoologist 22, 153–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Droz, B. (1981) (editor) Biological aspects of peripheral nerve regeneration.International Journal of Microsurgery 3, 75–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dykes, R. W. &Terzis, J. K. (1979) Reinnervation of glabrous skin in baboons: properties of cutaneous mechanoreceptors subsequent to nerve crush.Journal of Neurophysiology 42, 1461–78.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gorio, A., Carmignoto, G., Finesso, M., Polato, P. &Nunzi, M. G. (1983) Muscle reinnervation — II. Sprouting, synapse formation and repression.Neuroscience 8, 403–16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gorio, A., Millesi, H. &Mingrino, S. (1981) (editors)Post-traumatic Peripheral Nerve Regeneration. New York: Raven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutmann, E. (1958)Die funktioneile Regeneration der peripheren Nerven Berlin: Akademie Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutmann, E. &Sanders, F. K. (1943) The recovery of fibre numbers and diameters in the regeneration of peripheral nerves.Journal of Physiology 101, 489–518.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haftek, J. &Thomas, P. K. (1968) Electron-microscope observations on the effects of localized crush injuries on the connective tissue of peripheral nerve.Journal of Anatomy 103, 233–43.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horch, K. W. &Lisney, S. J. W. (1981) On the number and nature of regenerating myelinated axons after lesions of cutaneous nerves in the cat.Journal of Physiology 313, 275–86.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, C. C. (1974) The Pacinian corpuscle. InThe Peripheral Nervous System (edited byHubbard, J. I.), pp. 405–20. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyde, D. &Scott, J. J. A. (1983) Responses of cat peroneus brevis muscle spindle afferents during recovery from nerve-crush injury.Journal of Neurophysiology 50, 344–57.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Idé, C. (1982) Regeneration of mouse digital corpuscles.American Journal of Anatomy 163, 73–85.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ip, M. C., Vrbová, G. &Westbury, D. R. (1977) The sensory reinnervation of hind limb muscles of the cat following denervation and de-efferentation.Neurosdence 2, 423–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansen, J. K. S. &Lømo, T. (1981) Development of neuromuscular connections.Trends in Neurosciences 5, 178–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kadanoff, D., Seguchi, H. &Villiger, W. (1979) Die Ultrastruktur der Endigungen der Nervenfasern an den gewöhnlichen Haaren der Säugetiere unter normalen Bedingungen und während der De- und Regeneration.Zeitschrift für mikroskopisch-anatomische Forschung 93, 257–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korneliussen, H. &Jansen, J. K. S. (1976) Morphological aspects of the elimination of polyneuronal innervation of skeletal muscle fibres in newborn rats.Journal of Neurocytology 5, 591–604.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnamurti, A., Kanagasuntheram, R. &Vij, S. (1973) Failure of reinnervation of Pacinian corpuscle after nerve crush.Acta neuropathologica 23, 338–41.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lubińska, L. (1952) Elasticity and distensibility of nerve tubes.Acta biologiae experimental 16, 73–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackel, R., Kunesch, K., Waldhör, F. &Struppler, A. (1983) Reinnervation of mechanoreceptors in the human glabrous skin following peripheral nerve repair.Brain Research 268, 49–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mcardle, J. J. (1975) Complex end-plate potentials at the regenerating neuromuscular junction of the rat.Experimental Neurology 49, 629–38.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mira, J. C. (1976) Etudes quantitatives sur la régénération des fibres nerveuses myélinisées II: Variations du nombre et du calibre des fibres régénérées après un écrasement localisé ou une section totale.Archives d'Anatomie microscopique et Morphologie expérimentale 65, 255–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mira, J. C. (1981) Degeneration and regeneration of peripheral nerves: ultrastructural and electrophysiological observations, quantitative aspects and muscle changes during reinnervation.International Journal of Microsurgery 3, 102–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, J. H., Hudson, A. R. &Weddell, G. (1972) A study of degeneration and regeneration in the divided rat sciatic nerve based on electron microscopy. II. The development of the ‘regenerating unit’.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 124, 103–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nageotte, J. (1922)L'Organisation de la Matière Vivante dans les Rapports avec la Vie. Etudes d'Anatomie Générale et de la Morphologie Expérimentale sur le Tissu Conjonctif et le Nerf, Paris: Alcan.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Brien, R. A. D., Ostberg, A. J. C. &Vrbová, G. (1978) Observations on the elimination of polyneuronal innervation in developing mammalian skeletal muscle.Journal of Physiology 282, 571–82.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Riley, D. A. (1977) Spontaneous elimination of nerve terminals from the endplates of developing skeletal myofibers.Brain Research 134, 279–85.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rotshenker, S. &McMahan, U. J. (1976) Altered patterns of innervation in frog muscle after denervation.Journal of Neurocytology 5, 719–30.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, J. J. A. (1982)A study of the recovery of cat muscle spindles after nerve-crush injury. Ph.D. thesis, University of Durham.

  • Scott, S. A., Macintyre, L. &Diamond, J. (1981) Competitive re-innervation of salamander skin by regenerating and intact mechanosensory nerves.Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B 211, 501–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, P. K. (1974) Nerve injury. InEssays on the Nervous System (edited byBellairs, R. andGray, E. G.), pp. 44–70, Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, W. C. &Kanagasuntheram, R. (1971) Early and late effects of median nerve injury on Meissner's and Pacinian corpuscles of the hand of the macaque (M. fascicularis).Journal of Anatomy 109, 135–42.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zelená, J. (1980) Rapid degeneration of developing Pacinian corpuscles after denervation.Brain Research 187, 97–111.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zelená, J. (1981) Multiple innervation of rat Pacinian corpuscles regenerated after neonatal axotomy.Neuroscience 6, 1675–81.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zelená, J. (1982) Survival of Pacinian corpuscles after denervation in adult rats.Cell and Tissue Research 224, 673–83.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zelená, J., Sobotková, M. &Zelená, H. (1978) Age-modulated dependence of Pacinian corpuscles upon their sensory innervation.Physiologia bohemoslovaca 27, 437–43.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zelená, J., Vyskočil, F. &Jirmanová, I. (1979) The elimination of polyneuronal innervation of end-plates in developing rat muscles with altered function.Progress in Brain Research 49, 367–72.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physiology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, 142 20, Prague, Czechoslovakia

    J. Zelená

Authors
  1. J. Zelená
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zelená, J. Multiple axon terminals in reinnervated Pacinian corpuscles of adult rat. J Neurocytol 13, 665–684 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01148488

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01148488

Keywords

Search

Navigation