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Development of voltage-dependent currents in taste receptor cells
A Mackay-Sim1, R J Delay, S D Roper
1Faculty of Science and Technology, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia.
The Journal of Comparative Neurology
|February 5, 1996
Summary
Contact with the taste pore is essential for developing taste receptor cells to express inward currents. This finding clarifies the maturation process of these gustatory sensory cells.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Taste buds are sensory epithelia containing taste receptor cells that regenerate from basal stem cells.
- Mature taste receptor cells exhibit electrical excitability with specific ion currents, unlike basal stem cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether physical contact with the taste pore is necessary for the development of voltage-dependent inward currents in Necturus taste receptor cells.
Main Methods:
- Distinguishing mature from developing taste cells using fluorescein-isothiocyanate-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin (FITC-WGA) labeling of the apical surface.
- Utilizing whole-cell patch-clamp recordings to measure ion currents in labeled and unlabeled cells.
- Confirming cell identity and morphology through electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Most developing taste cells (lacking FITC-WGA staining) showed no inward currents.
- Developing cells that did express inward currents had significantly smaller currents compared to mature cells.
- Electron microscopy confirmed distinct morphologies between mature, developing, and basal stem cells.
Conclusions:
- Contact with the taste pore appears to be a critical factor for the maturation and development of inward currents in taste receptor cells.
- This suggests a microenvironmental cue from the taste pore influences ion channel expression during taste cell development.