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Odorant receptor gene expression in catfish taste tissue
K F Medler1, A Hansen, R C Bruch
1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, USA.
Neuroreport
|February 2, 1999
Summary
Odorant receptor genes are expressed in the taste tissue of channel catfish, not just olfactory organs. This suggests these receptors may have chemoreceptive roles beyond smell in non-olfactory cells.
Area of Science:
- * Molecular Biology
- * Neuroscience
- * Sensory Biology
Background:
- * Odorant receptors (ORs) are typically associated with olfactory neurons.
- * Previous studies have indicated OR expression in non-olfactory tissues across various animal models.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate the presence and localization of odorant receptor gene expression in the taste tissue of channel catfish.
- * To determine if ORs found in taste tissue exhibit similar expression patterns to those in olfactory neurons.
Main Methods:
- * Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to amplify OR transcripts from catfish barbel (taste tissue).
- * In situ hybridization was performed to visualize the spatial expression of ORs within the taste epithelium.
Main Results:
- * Multiple odorant receptor transcripts were successfully amplified from the channel catfish barbel.
- * In situ hybridization revealed that ORs from taste tissue and olfactory neurons hybridized to the taste epithelium in comparable patterns.
Conclusions:
- * Odorant receptor transcripts are demonstrably expressed in the taste tissue of channel catfish.
- * These findings support the hypothesis that certain odorant receptors may mediate chemoreception in non-olfactory tissues, expanding their known functions.