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Optogenetic Activation of Type III Taste Cells Modulates Taste Responses.
Aurelie Vandenbeuch1, Courtney E Wilson1, Sue C Kinnamon1
1Department of Otolaryngology and Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
Chemical Senses
|June 26, 2020
Summary
Optogenetic stimulation of sour-sensing Type III taste cells in mice modulated taste signals. Activating these cells with light reduced responses to sweet, bitter, salty, and sour stimuli, indicating intragemmal signal processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Biology
- Gustation Research
Background:
- Taste perception involves complex signaling within taste buds.
- Interactions between taste cell types may shape gustatory signals before neural transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate intragemmal signal modulation by optogenetically stimulating sour-sensitive Type III taste cells.
- To determine if taste modality information is preprocessed within the taste bud.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an optogenetic approach in mice expressing Cre recombinase under the Pkd2l1 promoter crossed with Cre-dependent channelrhodopsin (ChR2).
- Stimulated Type III taste cells using blue light applied to the tongue.
- Recorded chorda tympani nerve activity in response to light and/or chemical tastants.
Main Results:
- Light-induced activation of Type III cells significantly decreased taste nerve responses to sweet, bitter, salty, and acidic stimuli.
- Activation of Type II cells (sweet/bitter) did not consistently affect nerve responses to Type III cell stimuli.
Conclusions:
- Type III taste cell activation modulates gustatory signal transmission to the brain.
- Evidence suggests preprocessing of taste information occurs within the taste bud prior to sensory nerve signaling.
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