Stomatin and sensory neuron mechanotransduction. J Neurophysiol 2007 Dec;98(6):3802-8
Date
10/19/2007Pubmed ID
17942620DOI
10.1152/jn.00860.2007Scopus ID
2-s2.0-37549027634 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 42 CitationsAbstract
Somatic sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia are necessary for a large part of our mechanosensory experience. However, we only have a good knowledge of the molecules required for mechanotransduction in simple invertebrates such as the nematode Caenorhabiditis elegans. In C. elegans, a number of so-called mec genes have been isolated that are required for the transduction of body touch. One such gene, mec-2 codes for an integral membrane protein of the stomatin family, a large group of genes with a stomatin homology domain. Using stomatin null mutant mice, we have tested the hypothesis that the founding member of this family, stomatin might play a role in the transduction of mechanical stimuli by primary sensory neurons. We used the in vitro mouse skin nerve preparation to record from a large population of low- and high-threshold mechanoreceptors with myelinated A-fiber (n = 553) and unmyelinated C-fiber (n = 157) axons. One subtype of mechanoreceptor, the d-hair receptor, which is a rapidly adapting mechanoreceptor, had reduced sensitivity to mechanical stimulation in the absence of stomatin. Other cutaneous mechanoreceptors, including nociceptive C-fibers were not affected by the absence of a functional stomatin protein. Patch-clamp analysis of presumptive D-hair receptor mechanoreceptive neurons, which were identified by a characteristic rosette morphology in culture, showed no change in membrane excitability in the absence of the stomatin protein. We conclude that stomatin is required for normal mechanotransduction in a subpopulation of vertebrate sensory neurons.
Author List
Martinez-Salgado C, Benckendorff AG, Chiang LY, Wang R, Milenkovic N, Wetzel C, Hu J, Stucky CL, Parra MG, Mohandas N, Lewin GRAuthor
Cheryl L. Stucky PhD Professor in the Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsBlood Proteins
Electrophysiology
Hair
Mechanoreceptors
Mechanotransduction, Cellular
Membrane Proteins
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Nerve Fibers, Myelinated
Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated
Neurons, Afferent
Nociceptors
Patch-Clamp Techniques
Skin
