Development of Meissner corpuscle of mouse toe pad.

The cytologic development of Meissner corpuscles of the mouse toe pad has been studied using light and electron microscopy, and correlated with silver impregnations of frozen sections. By 18 days of gestation, neurites are seen near the epidermis, but intraepidermal neurites are few. One day after birth, the number of intraepidermal neurites increases, and some accompanying Schwann cells extend their cytoplasmic processes penetrating the basal lamina of the epidermis. Four days after birth, Schwann cells invade the epidermis further, extending many cytoplasmic processes which are intimately associated with basal cells of epidermis. These specialized Schwann cells which contact the epidermis proper also begin to develop cytoplasmic lamellae and thus denote the onset of lamellar cell development. By eight days after birth, the developing lamellar cells become more elaborated, and their cytoplasmic processes contain caveolae and filaments, characteristic features of lamellar cells. This developmental sequence supports the concept that lamellar cells are derived from Schwann cells. Through all stages of development, neurites and Schwann cells interact closely with epidermal cells. Epidermal cells may be essential for corpuscle formation. By 20 to 25 days after birth, mouse toe pad Meissner corpuscles are cytologically mature.