Document Detail


Morphological and biochemical heterogeneity in facial and vagal nerve innervated taste buds of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15844211     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In catfish, the facial nerve innervates taste buds distributed over the entire body including the barbels, while the glossopharyngeal and vagal nerves innervate oropharyngeal taste buds. Facial nerve innervated taste buds (FITBs) are thought to be involved in food detection and localization, while glossopharyngeal and vagal nerve innervated taste buds (VITBs) evaluate the palatability of food prior to ingestion. Physiological studies indicate that both oral and extra-oral taste buds detect sapid substances such as amino acids and nucleotides, but the facial taste system is more sensitive to some of these substances. The anatomical, molecular, and/or physiological mechanisms underlying the functional differences in these two gustatory pathways remain to be identified. In the current investigation we compare the basic morphological features of FITBs and VITBs and the distribution of the following metabolites: gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, aspartate, alanine, taurine, and glutathione. Vagal innervated taste buds are significantly longer and narrower than FITBs, with fewer taste cells and a smaller nerve plexus. Each of the metabolites examined was heterogeneously distributed in taste cells with notably more GABA positive cells present in the VITBs. Patterns of metabolite colocalization suggest the presence of several taste cell subtypes. The morphological and metabolite differences noted between FITBs and VITBs provide a potential anatomical basis for the previously noted differences in physiological sensitivity.
Authors:
Mojgan Eram; William C Michel
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of comparative neurology     Volume:  486     ISSN:  0021-9967     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Comp. Neurol.     Publication Date:  2005 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-04-26     Completed Date:  2005-07-28     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0406041     Medline TA:  J Comp Neurol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  132-44     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Affiliation:
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108-1297, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Amino Acids / metabolism
Animals
Biological Markers / metabolism
Cell Shape / physiology
Facial Nerve* / physiology
Female
Glutathione / metabolism
Ictaluridae / anatomy & histology*,  physiology
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Sensory Receptor Cells / metabolism,  ultrastructure*
Taste / physiology*
Taste Buds / metabolism,  physiology,  ultrastructure*
Vagus Nerve* / physiology
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
DC01418/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS; NS07938/NS/NINDS NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Amino Acids; 0/Biological Markers; 70-18-8/Glutathione

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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