Calcium inflow of isolated single Merkel cells in response to direct mechanical stimulation

Abstract

The changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) of single Merkel cells as a result of direct mechanical stimulation to the Merkel cell by mean of microfluorimetric techniques were investigated in order to verify the existence of mechanically-gated channels in this cell membrane. Touch domes of 4-8 week old golden hamsters were used and single Merkel cells were enzymatically isolated. Increases in [Ca2+]i of single Merkel cells were induced by direct mechanical stimulation in normal Krebs solution containing 2.5 mM Ca2+. The increase in [Ca2+]i ranged from 25 to 156 nM (n=7). This study revealed a probable existence of mechanically-gated channels on the Merkel cell membrane in the hamster cheek pouch mucosa and these findings support the hypothesis that the Merkel cell is the actual mechano-electric transducer.