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 research involved imaging of 20 axons in four mice and found that 89% of axon terminals and 63% of Merkel cells showed significant remodeling over the imaging period. The study also found that Merkel-cell numbers decline significantly over a month in adult mice, with 7% of all Merkel cells appearing to be added and 9% relocated within the cluster. The research suggests that Merkel-cell plasticity, but not axonal remodeling, is synchronized to the rapid epithelial regeneration that occurs during hair growth. The study concludes that Merkel cells stabilize individual branches, suppress exuberant branching, and promote maturation of terminal morphology. The absence of Merkel cells results in hyperbranched axons and a lack of kylix endings. The findings set the stage for future studies to identify the molecules governing peripheral axon morphology and plasticity in models of pathophysiology.