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

Abstract

Objectives: 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.

Materials
and Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions:
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.