Altered peripheral taste function in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Neuroscience
• Sensory Science

Background:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is linked to increased sugar intake and taste dysfunction in humans.
• The impact of IBD on taste function in animal models remained unexplored.

Approach:

• Chronic colitis was induced in mice using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) over three cycles.
• Electrophysiological responses from the chorda tympani nerve were recorded to assess taste function.
• Changes in the expression of taste receptor subunits were analyzed.

Key Points:

• DSS-induced colitis caused significant weight loss, diarrhea, and colon inflammation in mice.
• Neural taste responses to sweeteners were significantly reduced in colitis models.
• Umami taste responses were modestly elevated, while responses to carbohydrates, salt, sour, and bitter stimuli were unaffected.

Conclusions:

• Colitis alters taste input to the brain by modulating taste receptor subunit expression.
• Dysregulated cytokine responses and gut dysbiosis during colitis may underlie these taste changes.
• This study demonstrates colitis-induced taste alterations, potentially exacerbating malnutrition in IBD patients.