Follicle-Innervating Aδ-Low Threshold Mechanoreceptors Organize Through a Population-Dependent Mechanism

This study investigates the development of mouse hair follicle-innervating low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) and the role of competition in the organization of their receptive fields. The researchers found that these neurons are present at birth and their receptive fields expand during the first two postnatal weeks. By using a Bax knockout to increase the number of neurons in adult mice, they discovered that Aδ-LTMR neurons reduce their receptive fields in response to the increased neuronal population, indicating competition for hair follicle innervation. In contrast, C-LTMR neurons do not adjust their receptive fields in the same way. These findings suggest that competition among neurons for hair follicles is a key factor in the patterning of Aδ-LTMR neurons.