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Related Experiment Videos

Neuron/target plasticity in the peripheral gustatory system.

Marshall G Shuler1, Robin F Krimm, David L Hill

  • 1Picower Center for Learning & Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.

The Journal of Comparative Neurology
|March 30, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Surgical or dietary changes disrupt the balance between taste buds and innervating neurons in rats. Regeneration alters this balance, impacting the gustatory system and offering insights into sensory plasticity.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Biology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • A precise match exists between taste bud volume and innervating geniculate ganglion cells in adult rats.
  • This neuron-target relationship is crucial for normal gustatory system function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if taste bud size and innervation matching is altered in regenerated gustatory systems.
  • To examine the effects of unilateral nerve axotomy and/or sodium-restricted diets on this relationship.

Main Methods:

  • Adult rats underwent unilateral chorda tympani nerve axotomy.
  • Rats were maintained on standard or sodium-restricted diets.
  • Taste bud volumes and innervating geniculate ganglion cell numbers were quantified.

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Main Results:

  • Sodium restriction alone reduced taste bud volume relative to innervation.
  • Unilateral nerve sectioning disrupted the match on the intact side due to smaller taste buds.
  • Regenerated nerves showed larger taste buds but a 20% reduction in available ganglion cells.

Conclusions:

  • The neuron-taste bud match is sensitive to surgical and dietary manipulations.
  • Disruptions occur through decreased taste bud size or reduced neuron availability.
  • The gustatory system serves as a model for adult sensory plasticity.