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Taste bud leptin: sweet dampened at initiation site
Susan P Travers1, Marion E Frank2
1Division of Biosciences, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, 305W 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA and travers.3@osu.edu.
Chemical Senses
|March 6, 2015
Summary
Leptin, an appetite-controlling hormone, has complex effects on sweet taste perception. Studies show varied impacts on gustatory responses, suggesting conditional roles in taste modulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Leptin is an anorexic hormone known to influence appetite.
- Previous research suggested leptin decreases sweet-evoked peripheral gustatory responses.
- The precise role of leptin in modulating sweet taste sensitivity requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conditional effects of leptin on sweet taste perception.
- To clarify the impact of leptin on peripheral gustatory responses.
- To reconcile conflicting findings regarding leptin's modulation of sweet taste.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings of chorda tympani nerve responses to sweet stimuli.
- Measurement of neurotransmitter release (ATP and 5-HT) from taste buds.
- Comparative analysis of studies by Glendinning and Meredith's teams.
Main Results:
- Glendinning et al. found no effect of leptin on sweet-evoked chorda tympani responses.
- Meredith et al. observed decreased ATP release and increased 5-HT release from taste buds in response to sweet stimuli with leptin.
- These findings highlight variability in leptin's effects on sweet taste pathways.
Conclusions:
- Leptin's modulation of sweet taste is conditional and context-dependent.
- Conflicting results suggest different experimental conditions or methodologies influence leptin's impact.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate leptin's complex role in appetite and taste perception.
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