Tactile Sensitivity in the Rat: A Correlation Between Receptor Structure and Function
September 2021
in “
Experimental Brain Research
”
TLDR Rats have different touch receptors in their paws that help with movement and handling objects.
The study investigated the correlation between receptor structure and function in the glabrous skin of the rat forelimb by analyzing 92 cutaneous fibers in the median nerve. It confirmed the presence of Meissner corpuscles and Merkel complexes, which were sparse and primarily located in the palmer pads and digit extremities. No Ruffini receptors or Pacinian corpuscles were found. The study found that rapidly adapting (RA) fibers outnumbered slowly adapting (SA) fibers at the digit extremities by a ratio of 3.2/1.0, while SA fibers were more prevalent on the thenar pad with a ratio of 3–1. These findings suggested functional differences in tactile sensitivity related to locomotion and object manipulation.
