Summary
Immunogold staining failed to show met-enkephalin immunoreactivity in the Merkel cell dense-core granules of rats when examined by electron microscopy, but showed gold particle staining in the Merkel cell dense-core granules of mice and nude mice. Merkel cells of hamster, guinea pig, rabbit, cat and dog were also examined using a similar method, and different antisera dilutions. Immunogold particles were consistently found in the dense-core granules of mice and nude mice at all antisera dilutions, but not in the other species, except in the dog, where a very low labelling response was encountered. Merkel cells from skin touch domes or sinus hair follicles, did not exhibit any difference in peptide expression as far as met-enkephalin immunoreactivity was concerned. In addition, all species studied, including mice and nude mice, did not show leu-enkephalin immunoreactivity in their Merkel cell dense-core granules. It is concluded that species variability in peptide expression occurs in the Merkel cell dense-core granules, and may be closely related to the different methodologies used.
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Cheng Chew, S.B., Leung, P.Y. Species variability in the expression of met- and leu-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in mammalian Merkel cell dense-core granules. Cell Tissue Res 269, 347–351 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319627
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319627