Odorant receptor gene expression in catfish taste tissue

Odorant receptor expression has been reported in a variety of non-olfactory cells and tissues in several animal models. We therefore investigated the possible expression of odorant receptor genes in taste tissue of channel catfish. Multiple odorant receptor transcripts were amplified by PCR from barbel. In situ hybridization showed that receptors amplified from taste tissue, as well as receptors amplified from olfactory neurons, hybridized to taste epithelium with similar patterns. These results show that odorant receptor transcripts are expressed in catfish taste tissue. Taken with previous data, these results suggest that some members of the odorant receptor superfamily may mediate various chemoreceptive roles in non-olfactory cells.