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Related Experiment Videos

Adrenergic signalling between rat taste receptor cells.

Scott Herness1, Fang-Li Zhao, Namik Kaya

  • 1Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, Ohio State University, 305 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. herness.1@osu.edu

The Journal of Physiology
|September 3, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Taste receptor cells respond to adrenergic stimulation, with noradrenaline inhibiting potassium currents. This suggests a paracrine role for adrenergic transmission in taste bud physiology.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Synaptic transmission in taste buds traditionally involves taste receptor cells signaling to afferent nerves.
  • The role of adrenergic signaling within the taste bud microenvironment remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the response of taste receptor cells to adrenergic stimulation.
  • To determine the specific adrenergic receptor subtypes involved and their functional consequences.

Main Methods:

  • Patch-clamp electrophysiology to measure potassium currents.
  • Measurement of intracellular calcium levels.
  • RT-PCR to identify adrenergic receptor gene expression.
  • Immunocytochemistry to localize noradrenaline.

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Main Results:

  • Noradrenaline inhibited outward potassium currents in a dose-dependent manner.
  • Beta-adrenergic agonists mimicked and antagonists blocked this effect, implicating beta-receptors.
  • Alpha-adrenergic agonists also inhibited potassium currents and increased intracellular calcium, suggesting alpha-receptor involvement.
  • Multiple alpha and beta adrenergic receptor subtypes were detected in lingual epithelium, with noradrenaline localized to taste receptor cells.

Conclusions:

  • Taste receptor cells possess functional adrenergic receptors.
  • Adrenergic transmission, likely paracrine, influences potassium currents and intracellular calcium in taste cells.
  • Adrenergic signaling may play a novel role in regulating taste physiology within the taste bud.