Sensory nerve endings in the rat cheek mucosa: an electron microscopic study

Abstract

The sensory nerve endings of the rat cheek mucosa were studied using the transmission electron microscopy. The specimens were fixed in modified Karnovsky solution and embedded in Epon resin. The sensory nerve endings showed a central terminal axon containing numerous mitochondria, neurofilaments, microtubules and clear vesicles. The proximal part of corpuscle revealed the cytoplasmic extensions of lamellar cells and the perineural cells. The fine bundles of collagen fibers are identified in the interlamellar spaces and the external part of corpuscle. Numerous concentric lamellae showed caveolae, interlamelar spaces filled with amorphous material, desmosome-type junctions between adjacent lamellae and the inner lamellar cells and the axoplasmic membrane. These fine structures are important to recognise and understand the morphological characteristics in the oral mucosa.