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Information processing in brainstem bitter taste-relaying neurons defined by genetic tracing.
M Sugita1, K Yamamoto, C Hirono
1Department of Physiology and Oral Physiology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Kasumi 1-2-3, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan.
Neuroscience
|July 16, 2013
Summary
Researchers identified how bitter taste signals are processed in the brain. Specific neurons in the brainstem, using different neurotransmitters, translate bitter taste receptor (T2R) information into behavioral responses, linking taste to feeding behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gustatory System Research
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Bitter taste perception involves T2R receptors on taste cells.
- Neural pathways for bitter taste signal processing remain incompletely understood.
- Understanding these pathways is crucial for linking taste to feeding behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To functionally characterize neurons in the solitary tract nuclei receiving input from mT2R5-expressing cells.
- To elucidate the neural mechanisms translating bitter taste information into brain signals.
- To investigate the interaction between taste processing and feeding control.
Main Methods:
- Utilized genetic tracing in mice to identify neural pathways.
- Performed electrophysiological analyses to study synaptic transmission.
- Conducted immunohistochemical analyses to classify neuron types.
Main Results:
- Identified glutamatergic synaptic input via AMPA receptors in target neurons.
- Observed that cholecystokinin enhances glutamatergic transmission, suggesting a link to satiety.
- Revealed neuronal heterogeneity, classifying cells into catecholamine and pro-opiomelanocortin types.
Conclusions:
- Bitter taste information from mT2R5 cells is relayed by heterogeneous neurons in the brainstem.
- These neurons utilize distinct neurotransmitters, forming unique ensembles for signal processing.
- Findings suggest an integration of taste information with homeostatic feeding control mechanisms.
Keywords:
4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acidAITCBSACCKCSFDICEGFPEGTAEPSCGFPGLP-1HEPESLiClNTSPBNPBSPOMCRFTHallyl isothiocyanatealpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormonebitter tastebovine serum albumincatecholamine neuroncerebral spinal fluidcholecystokinindifferential interference contrastenhanced green fluorescent proteinethylene glycol tetraacetic acidexcitatory postsynaptic currentsglucagon-like peptide 1green fluorescent proteinlithium chloridenucleus of the solitary tractparabrachial nucleiphosphate-buffered salinepro-opiomelanocortinreticular formationthe solitary tract nucleityrosine hydroxylaseα-MSH
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