NIH Reporter #5R01NS126277-05

Mechanism of Meissner corpuscle function

This award funds research at Yale University to understand how Meissner corpuscles in vertebrate skin detect touch. The study uses neurophysiology, biophysics, and imaging to explore the molecular mechanisms involved, aiming to inform treatments for touch hypersensitivity disorders.

Description

The project aims to unravel the mechanism of touch detection by the specialized end-organs in the skin of vertebrates called Meissner corpuscles. The study will investigate the molecular mechanism of touch sensitivity in Meissner lamellar cells, their interaction with neuronal mechanoreceptors, and their role in somatosensory physiology using neurophysiology, biophysics, and imaging. The research employs an integrative approach including neurophysiology, biophysics, and imaging, using bill skin of tactile specialist ducks for experimental manipulations. Results will contribute to the development of pharmacological tools to alleviate somatosensory disorders associated with hypersensitivity to touch in humans.

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