Quantitative and qualitative studies of Meissner's corpuscles in human skin, with special reference to alterations caused by aging.

Abstract

ABSTRACTWe observed age‐related changes in Meissner's corpuscles, one type of cutaneous sensory receptor, in subjects ranging from their 20s to their 70s.Nerve fibers in Meissner's corpuscles were observed by the silver impregnation technique. They changed morphologically with aging. Meissner's corpuscles are supplied by one to four myelinated nerve fibers, most frequently one or two, from the lower portion, and, most densely, from the basal portion. By morphometric analyses, the size of Meissner's corpuscles was found to increase with aging, but to decrease during the 70s. Furthermore, this size change depends upon the size of the lamellar cells in the direction of the long axis, and, among subjects in their 60s, in the direction of the short axis as well.The shape of Meissner's corpuscles becomes more complicated with age due to twisted alterations. This change occurs markedly during the 60s.