Published August 2007
| public
Journal Article
Molecular genetic visualization of a rare subset of unmyelinated sensory neurons that may detect gentle touch
Abstract
C-fiber tactile afferents are a subpopulation of unmyelinated cutaneous sensory neurons activated by gentle stroking. Using a genetically encoded tracer, we found that Mas-related G protein–coupled receptor B4 marks a rare subpopulation of unmyelinated, nonpeptidergic sensory fibers that exclusively innervate hairy skin. These fibers terminate in large arborizations similar in size and distribution to C-fiber tactile afferent receptive fields, suggesting that MrgprB4 may provide genetic access to these elusive neurons in mice.
Additional Information
© 2007 Macmillan Publishers Limited. Received 16 April; accepted 11 June; published online 8 July 2007. We thank S. Pease for mouse assistance and J. Edens for electron microscopy. This work was supported by Alfred P. Sloan Neuroscience and Whitehall Foundation grants (X.D. and M.J.Z.), a Blaustein Pain research fund award (XD) and a European Molecular Biology Organization fellowship (S.V.). D.J.A. is an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. X.D. generated the MrgprB4-PLAP mice, Q.L. carried out the bulk of the immunohistochemical characterization and analysis of these mice, S.V. contributed to the initial analysis and participated in the electron microscopic PLAP experiments, M.J.Z. generated and analyzed MrgprDPLAP/EGFP spinal cord, F.L.R. provided expert advice on interpretation of epidermal innervation and D.J.A. supervised the project and wrote the manuscript.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 55515
- DOI
- 10.1038/nn1937
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20150304-112941961
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- Whitehall Foundation
- Blaustein Pain Research Fund
- European Molecular Biology Organization
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)
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2015-03-05Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-10Created from EPrint's last_modified field