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 in the skin's epithelial layer. The researchers found that sensory axon terminals are highly dynamic, even when Merkel cells are stable, with 89% of axon terminals and 63% of Merkel cells showing significant remodeling. The study also found that Merkel-cell numbers decline significantly over a month in adult mice, and that the plasticity of Merkel cells, but not axonal remodeling, is synchronized to the rapid epithelial regeneration that occurs during hair growth. The research also revealed that Merkel cells stabilize individual branches, suppress exuberant branching, and promote maturation of terminal morphology. The study involved imaging of 20 axons in four mice and used various methods including in vivo imaging, two-photon microscopy, and whole-mount immunohistochemistry.