Molecular Anatomy and Function of Sensory Organs and Sensory Tissues

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Tissues and Organs".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2027 | Viewed by 2503

Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sensory organs provide the bodies of both humans and animals with information from the worlds both outside and inside of them. Information from the outer world is acquired from major sensory organs, e.g., those of vision and hearing, but also from more subtle sensory corpuscles like Pacinian and Meissner corpuscles, among others. Information regarding the “inner world” includes input from the viscera and cardiovascular system that communicate, e.g., oxygen saturation and blood pressure. The functioning of these sensory structures is vital for the functioning of the central nervous system, though the molecular anatomy and function of these sensory structures is often not well understood. The proposed Special Issue is intended to promote improved understanding in this important field.

Prof. Dr. Frank Schmitz
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • sensory organ
  • sensory tissue
  • vision
  • hearing
  • skin
  • sensory structures of internal organs

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 23995 KB  
Article
Developmental Remodeling of the Auditory Hair Cell Cuticular Plate Defines Transient and Mature Structural Domains
by Ai Liu, Shang Gao, Yilin Du, Zhilin Dou, Weiqing Liu, Sihao Xu, Wenjie Sun, Xi Li, Jiangxia Li, Qiji Liu and Yecheng Jin
Cells 2026, 15(7), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15070574 - 24 Mar 2026
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Abstract
The cuticular plate, a dense F-actin meshwork anchoring stereocilia in auditory hair cells (HCs), undergoes dynamic remodeling during development, but its structural transitions remain poorly understood. Here, we identified two distinct structural domains associated with this maturation. First, a transient F-actin-free area emerges [...] Read more.
The cuticular plate, a dense F-actin meshwork anchoring stereocilia in auditory hair cells (HCs), undergoes dynamic remodeling during development, but its structural transitions remain poorly understood. Here, we identified two distinct structural domains associated with this maturation. First, a transient F-actin-free area emerges within the lateral periphery of the developing cuticular plate, presenting as a crescent-shaped region that disappears upon HC maturation. Second, the lateral margin of the mature cuticular plate itself remodels into a persistent step-like structure, exhibiting cell-type-specific geometries in inner versus outer HCs. The consistent coincidence between Gαi-GPSM2 complex disruption and aberrant development of both structures in mutant mice implies a role for this complex in their formation. Additionally, microtubules spatially complemented F-actin distribution, suggesting coordinated cytoskeletal regulation. These findings revealed a sophisticated developmental program for cuticular plate maturation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Anatomy and Function of Sensory Organs and Sensory Tissues)
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Review

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22 pages, 849 KB  
Review
Astrocyte Heterogeneity and Metabolic Reprogramming: Mechanisms Governing Retinal Ganglion Cell Damage in Glaucoma
by Yufei Hao, Dongran Liang, Mengjie Ren, Fang Kuang and Mingmei Wu
Cells 2026, 15(6), 487; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15060487 - 10 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1103
Abstract
Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible visual impairment, is driven by progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration. Emerging evidence highlights astrocytes as pivotal players in its pathogenesis, with their heterogeneity and pathological metabolic reprogramming profoundly impacting RGC survival. This review synthesizes current insights [...] Read more.
Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible visual impairment, is driven by progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration. Emerging evidence highlights astrocytes as pivotal players in its pathogenesis, with their heterogeneity and pathological metabolic reprogramming profoundly impacting RGC survival. This review synthesizes current insights into astrocyte diversity and metabolic alterations during glaucoma-related RGC injury, emphasizing molecular mechanisms from proteomic studies. Key focuses include fatty acid metabolism, neuroinflammation, and signaling pathways that modulate astrocyte function and contribute to neurodegeneration. Despite advances, challenges remain—particularly in characterizing astrocyte subtypes and identifying actionable targets within astrocyte-mediated metabolic/inflammatory cascades. By unraveling the interplay between astrocyte heterogeneity, metabolic reprogramming, and RGC vulnerability, this review provides novel theoretical frameworks to inform targeted glaucoma therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Anatomy and Function of Sensory Organs and Sensory Tissues)
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