Reinnervation of Meissner’s corpuscles and Merkel -cells by transplantation of embryonic dorsal root ganglion cells after peripheral nerve section in rats

<b>Abstract</b> <b>Objectives:</b><b> </b>Transplantation of embryonic motor neurons has been shown to improve motor neuron survival and reinnervation of neuromuscular junctions in peripheral nerves. However, there have been no reports regarding transplantation of sensory neurons and reinnervation of sensory receptors. Therefore, we hypothesized that transplantation of embryonic sensory neurons may improve sensory neuron in the skin and reinnervate Merkel cells and Meissner’s corpuscles. <b>Materials and Methods: </b>We obtained sensory neurons from dorsal root ganglia of 14-day rat embryos. We generated a rat model of Wallerian -degeneration by performing sciatic nerve transection and waiting for one week after. Six months after cell transplantation, we performed histological and electrophysiological examinations in naïve control, surgical control, and cell transplantation groups. <b>Results: </b>The number of nerve fibers in the papillary dermis and epidermal-dermal interface was significantly greater in the cell transplantation than in the surgical control group. The percent of Merkel cells with nerve terminals, as well as the average number of Meissner corpuscles with nerve terminals, were higher in the cell transplantation than in the surgical control group. Moreover, the amplitude and latency of sensory conduction velocity were evoked in rats of the cell transplantation group. <b>Conclusions: </b>We demonstrated that transplantation of embryonic dorsal root ganglion cells improved sensory nerve fiber number and reinnervation of Merkel cells and Meissner’s corpuscles in peripheral nerves.<br>