Localisation and structure of the receptors in the snout skin of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) at the level of light and electron microscopy.

Abstract

Morphological investigations of the snout skin of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) revealed many nerve bundles and nerve fibres in the corium. Under the electron microscope, fibrocytes, many Schwann cells and, close to the basal membrane, laminated corpuscles can be seen. The latter consist of laminae, laminar cells and an axon. The laminae are characterized by exocytotic vesicles and by branching. The laminar cells are narrow and long. In the axon, there are several clear vesicles and sporadic mitochondria. The axolemma and cytolemma are sharply delimited, the space between them is wide. There is no synaptic organization. In the epidermis, ascending nerve fibres run intercellularly or intracellularly; their intracellular terminals are in the upper cell layers of the stratum germinativum. Other terminations occur in the lower and median stratum corneum as well. The final portions of nerve fibres degenerate in the upper horny layer together with the corneal squamae.