Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Sensory Neuron and Merkel-Cell Remodeling During Epidermal Homeostasis

The study "Spatiotemporal dynamics of sensory neuron and Merkel-cell remodeling are decoupled during epidermal homeostasis" investigates the remodeling of sensory neurons and Merkel cells, which are crucial for touch sensation. The researchers developed a platform for longitudinal imaging of these cells and found that sensory axon terminals are highly dynamic, even when Merkel cells are stable. The study found that 89% of terminal branches and 63% of Merkel cells underwent significant remodeling. The research also discovered two distinct populations of Merkel cells with different lifetimes and found that Merkel-cell numbers decline significantly over a month in adult mice. The study concluded that Merkel cells stabilize individual branches, suppress excessive branching, and promote maturation of terminal morphology. The presence of Merkel cells, rather than their removal, suppresses branching and promotes structural maturation. The study also found that the plasticity of Merkel cells, but not axonal remodeling, is synchronized to the rapid epithelial regeneration that occurs during hair growth. The research involved in vivo imaging and post hoc immunofluorescence staining for the mature Merkel-cell marker K8.