by Senok, Silas Solomon. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 194-217). / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.ii / ABSTRACT --- p.v / Chapter 1 --- INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1 --- Classification of Cutaneous Mechanoreceptors --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2 --- Characteristics of Some Mammalian Cutaneous Mechanoreceptors --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3 --- Vibrissae --- p.30 / Chapter 2.4 --- Mechanosensory Transduction --- p.40 / Chapter 2.5 --- The Merkel Cell Controversy --- p.44 / Chapter 2.6 --- Intracellular Calcium Mobilisation --- p.53 / Chapter 3 --- METHODS --- p.59 / Chapter 3.1 --- The Isolated Vibrissal Preparation --- p.59 / Chapter 3.2 --- Experimental Protocol --- p.77 / Chapter 3.3 --- Data Analysis --- p.79 / Chapter 4 --- RESULTS --- p.82 / Chapter 4.1 --- Characterisation of The Receptors --- p.82 / Chapter 4.2 --- Stability And Viability of The Preparation --- p.94 / Chapter 4.3 --- Pharmacologic Studies --- p.103 / Chapter 5 --- DISCUSSION --- p.160 / Chapter 5.1 --- Outcome of Project --- p.160 / Chapter 5 2 --- The Isolated Vibrissal Preparation --- p.162 / Chapter 5.3 --- The Vibrissal Slowly Adapting Mechanoreceptors --- p.165 / Chapter 5 4 --- Mechanism of Chloroquine Inhibtion of Merkel Cell Receptors --- p.170 / Chapter 5.5 --- Evidence For CICR In Merkel Cell Endings --- p.175 / Chapter 5.6 --- Mechano-Electric Transduction In Merkel Cell Receptors --- p.182 / Chapter 5.7 --- Transduction in St II Nerve Terminals --- p.190 / Chapter 5.8 --- What Next? --- p.192 / Chapter 5.9 --- Conclusion --- p.193 / REFERENCES --- p.194