哺乳动物味蕾细胞分型及其细胞间信息传递

味觉是动物基本的生理感觉之一,在人类的感官研究方面,味觉一直滞后于视觉、嗅觉、触觉和听觉.味蕾是味觉的主要感受器,由于传统的细胞生物学研究手段很难在味觉研究中得到应用,人类和动物味觉的信号传递与编码机制目前还处于探索阶段,是目前的研究热点之一.近年来,随着现代分子细胞生物学和微电子传感器技术的发展和应用,味觉研究取得了较大进展.本文主要对近年来对味蕾结构和味细胞间的信号传递研究成果进行了综述,重点介绍了味细胞分型及其特征、味蕾细胞间信号传递途径及其编码机制.     

味觉神经损伤与再生对动物味觉功能影响的研究进展

味觉的感受器是味蕾,来源于味蕾的味觉信号通过味觉神经传递到味觉中枢神经系统。鼓索神经和舌咽神经是支配舌面味蕾的两大主要味觉神经,它们分别支配着前舌和后舌的味蕾。味觉神经损伤可以引起所支配的味蕾萎缩、退化、消失,进而导致部分味觉功能受损,受损的味觉功能则可以在味觉神经再生后得到恢复。味觉神经交叉再生支配大鼠模型是研究中枢神经系统可塑性变化的重要平台。味觉神经交叉再生支配后,动物的行为学反应和味觉神经的电生理特性都发生了很大的变化。本文综述味觉神经损伤、再生以及味觉神经交叉支配对动物味觉功能的影响,并对味觉神经交叉再生支配动物模型以后的研究方向进行展望。味觉神经损伤、再生和交叉再生支配的研究不仅有助于揭示味觉神经系统可塑性变化的机制,也将为临床上寻找治疗味觉障碍患者的方法和技术提供理论基础和新的思路。     

哺乳动物舌面味蕾的发育

根据近年来有关大鼠、小鼠味觉发育方面的大量研究,对哺乳动物味蕾(taste buds)发育的情况进行了综述和讨论.哺乳动物舌面上的味蕾分布在菌状乳头(fungiform papillae,FF)、叶状乳头(foliate papillae,FL)、轮廓状乳头(circumvallate papillae,CV)之中,味蕾细胞(taste bud cells)不断地进行着周期性的更新,味蕾的形态、数量和功能随动物随年龄而变化.有关味孔头的研究表明,味乳头(gustatory papillae)在味蕾形成和维持味蕾存在及正常发育方面有着独特的功能.味乳头和味蕾的发育过程与细胞信号分子(signaling molecules)、味觉神经(gustatory nerve fibers)等许多因素有着密切的关系,其中有些作用机理至今尚无定论.     

黄颡鱼口须味蕾分布模式及味蛋白α-味导素的表达

为探讨黄颡鱼口须味蕾的分布模式及其α味导素的表达,应用连续石蜡切片和环境扫描电镜对口须味蕾的数量、形态和分布进行了研究,并用整体包埋免疫荧光组化方法检测了黄颡鱼4种口须味蕾中α味导素的表达。结果显示:黄颡鱼口须味蕾主要分布在口须中间2/3区域,存在三种类型的味蕾:Ⅰ型与Ⅱ型味蕾突起于上皮表面,Ⅲ型味蕾平齐于周围上皮;味蕾细胞中有α味导素的强表达。结果提示,黄颡鱼口须味蕾的数量、形态及其分布模式是其适应底栖生活习性的结果;α味导素在各种口须味蕾中的强烈表达说明α味导素在黄颡鱼味觉感知与信息传导过程中有重要意义,也意味着脊椎动物味觉信号转导存在着共同路径     

营养状态影响大鼠味蕾甘丙肽及其受体mRNA的表达

机体的营养代谢状态参与调制外周味觉信息的整合,影响外周味觉感受和食物摄入。味蕾上的味觉受体及神经递质都是营养状态调节味觉感知的重要靶点。本文旨在探讨营养状态对味蕾上的重要神经递质甘丙肽及其受体表达的影响。我们比较了高脂饮食诱导的肥胖大鼠、慢性限制性饮食大鼠、以及正常膳食大鼠味蕾水平甘丙肽及其受体2 (galanin receptor 2,GalR2)mRNA表达水平的差异,以探讨机体营养代谢状态是否通过调控味蕾水平甘丙肽的表达来影响味觉感知。分别给予各组大鼠6周的高脂饮食、半量饮食和正常饮食,检测其体重、血糖、血脂等代谢相关指标,用real-time PCR方法检测其味蕾甘丙肽与GalR2 mRNA的表达变化。结果显示:与对照组相比,高脂饮食大鼠的体重显著增加,血清甘油三酯及血糖水平显著增高,味蕾水平甘丙肽与GalR2的mRNA表达水平显著降低,而慢性限制性饮食大鼠味蕾甘丙肽的mRNA表达增高,是对照组的2.3倍。结合以前的研究,我们可以得出初步结论:高脂饮食诱导的肥胖大鼠味觉感受行为学的变化可能与味蕾甘丙肽及其受体的表达变化存在相互关系。味蕾水平的甘丙肽及其受体GalR2参与营养状态调控大鼠味觉感知及摄食行为的外周机制。     

味觉结构是如何产生的

在五种感觉当中,人们对味觉的了解最少。味蕾是将从食物及其他来源获得的化学刺激传输到神经细胞的感觉器官,而神经细胞又将这些信息传送至大脑的味觉中心。位于舌头表面和两侧的小突起里的味蕾被称为味觉乳头。     

大鼠舌乳头酶组织化学及扫描电镜的研究

实验采用酶组织化学法和扫描电镜对大鼠舌乳头的酶活性及其表面结构进行了观测。结果表明。大、鼠舌菌状乳头和轮廓乳头的味蕾处Mg^2 -ATPase为强阳性反应（ ）,ChEase为中等阳性反应（ ）,使用ChE Ag^ 染色方法显示。味蕾含有丰富的神经末梢,结果提示ATP可能是味觉传导中神经递质或调质。     

漫谈味觉

漫谈味觉陈英水（福建省松溪县第一中学３５３５００）味蕾是味觉感受器,分布在舌乳头、舌穴等处．舌乳头是舌面上许多粘膜小突起。它有４种类型,丝状、菌状、叶状和轮廓乳头。舌穴是舌乳头旁边的细管。味蕾的分布有年龄差异。成人味蕾主要分布于舌面（特别是舌尖和舌侧...     

发现舌头上的两个味觉受体

马里兰Ｂｅｔｈｅｓｄａ的牙齿与颅面国家研究院的ＮｉｃｈｏｌａｓＪ．Ｐ．Ｒｙｂａ领导的研究组与圣地亚哥的加州大学ＨｏｗａｒｄＨｕｇｈｅｓ医学中心的ＣｈａｒｌｅｓＳ．Ｚｕｋｅｒ领导的研究组在２月１９日的《Ｃｅｌｌ》上报道他们合作鉴定了舌头上两个味觉受体。舌前部散布着象小岛一样的味蕾上集中了带有味觉受体的味觉细胞。１９９６年曾发现感觉肉鲜味的味觉受体。Ｚｕｋｅｒ研究组与Ｒｙｂａ研究组分析了舌前部味觉细胞的基因活性，他们筛选了数以百计的活性基因，发现了一个称为ＴＲ１的基因，它编码有点象谷氨酸与信息素受体…     

味觉的生理学研究进展

味觉的生理学研究进展陈建国（江苏省启东肝癌研究所,启东２２６２００）沈福民（上海医科大学遗传医学研究中心,上海２０００３２）目录一、味觉的生理学基础（一）味蕾的刺激活动（二）味觉阈值分类二、尝味及味感觉机理（一）尝味试验的味扰作用（二）味感觉及舌图三...     

β-Catenin Signaling Biases Multipotent Lingual Epithelial Progenitors to Differentiate and Acquire Specific Taste Cell Fates

Continuous taste bud cell renewal is essential to maintain taste function in adults; however, the molecular mechanisms that regulate taste cell turnover are unknown. Using inducible Cre-lox technology, we show that activation of β-catenin signaling in multipotent lingual epithelial progenitors outside of taste buds diverts daughter cells from a general epithelial to a taste bud fate. Moreover, while taste buds comprise 3 morphological types, β-catenin activation drives overproduction of primarily glial-like Type I taste cells in both anterior fungiform (FF) and posterior circumvallate (CV) taste buds, with a small increase in Type II receptor cells for sweet, bitter and umami, but does not alter Type III sour detector cells. Beta-catenin activation in post-mitotic taste bud precursors likewise regulates cell differentiation; forced activation of β-catenin in these Shh⁺ cells promotes Type I cell fate in both FF and CV taste buds, but likely does so non-cell autonomously. Our data are consistent with a model where β-catenin signaling levels within lingual epithelial progenitors dictate cell fate prior to or during entry of new cells into taste buds; high signaling induces Type I cells, intermediate levels drive Type II cell differentiation, while low levels may drive differentiation of Type III cells.     

Glutamate may be an efferent transmitter that elicits inhibition in mouse taste buds

Recent studies suggest that l-glutamate may be an efferent transmitter released from axons innervating taste buds. In this report, we determined the types of ionotropic synaptic glutamate receptors present on taste cells and that underlie this postulated efferent transmission. We also studied what effect glutamate exerts on taste bud function. We isolated mouse taste buds and taste cells, conducted functional imaging using Fura 2, and used cellular biosensors to monitor taste-evoked transmitter release. The findings show that a large fraction of Presynaptic (Type III) taste bud cells (～50%) respond to 100 μM glutamate, NMDA, or kainic acid (KA) with an increase in intracellular Ca(2+). In contrast, Receptor (Type II) taste cells rarely (4%) responded to 100 μM glutamate. At this concentration and with these compounds, these agonists activate glutamatergic synaptic receptors, not glutamate taste (umami) receptors. Moreover, applying glutamate, NMDA, or KA caused taste buds to secrete 5-HT, a Presynaptic taste cell transmitter, but not ATP, a Receptor cell transmitter. Indeed, glutamate-evoked 5-HT release inhibited taste-evoked ATP secretion. The findings are consistent with a role for glutamate in taste buds as an inhibitory efferent transmitter that acts via ionotropic synaptic glutamate receptors.     

Histogenesis of the taste buds of the vallate papilla in the in the rat in the postnatal stages of development

The developing taste buds of vallate papillae were studied with electron microscope in rats during the first 7 days after birth. Two types of cells--light and dark--are identified in the taste buds of a one day old animal. The apical parts of dark cells are characterized by numerous dark granules. A distinguishing feature of light cells is the presence of synaptic contacts with afferent intragemmal nerves. On the 4th day of development on the top of the apical parts of the cell, a microvillar apparatus is seen to form, which does not yet communicate with the oral cavity. On the 7th day, basal cells appear in the taste buds. Some of these cells are seen mitotically dividing. The differentiated microvillar apparatus now communicates with oral cavity. The structure of the taste buds is getting similar to that in the adults. The structural and functional peculiarities of the developing taste buds are discussed in association with the period of ontogenesis under consideration.     

Liposome-mediated transfection of mature taste cells

The introduction and expression of exogenous DNA in neurons is valuable for analyzing a range of cellular and molecular processes in the periphery, e.g., the roles of transduction-related proteins, the impact of growth factors on development and differentiation, and the function of promoters specific to cell type. However, sensory receptor cells, particularly chemosensory cells, have been difficult to transfect. We have successfully introduced plasmids expressing green and Discosoma Red fluorescent proteins (GFP and DsRed) into rat taste buds in primary culture. Transfection efficiency increased when delaminated taste epithelium was redigested with fresh protease, suggesting that a protective barrier of extracellular matrix surrounding taste cells may normally be present. Because taste buds are heterogeneous aggregates of cells, we used alpha-gustducin, neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), and neuronal ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase (PGP9.5), markers for defined subsets of mature taste cells, to demonstrate that liposome-mediated transfection targets multiple taste cell types. After testing eight commercially available lipids, we identified one, Transfast, that is most effective on taste cells. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of two common "promiscuous" promoters and one promoter that taste cells use endogenously. These studies should permit ex vivo strategies for studying development and cellular function in taste cells.     

Functional Cell Types in Taste Buds Have Distinct Longevities

Taste buds are clusters of polarized sensory cells embedded in stratified oral epithelium. In adult mammals, taste buds turn over continuously and are replenished through the birth of new cells in the basal layer of the surrounding non-sensory epithelium. The half-life of cells in mammalian taste buds has been estimated as 8–12 days on average. Yet, earlier studies did not address whether the now well-defined functional taste bud cell types all exhibit the same lifetime. We employed a recently developed thymidine analog, 5-ethynil-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) to re-evaluate the incorporation of newly born cells into circumvallate taste buds of adult mice. By combining EdU-labeling with immunostaining for selected markers, we tracked the differentiation and lifespan of the constituent cell types of taste buds. EdU was primarily incorporated into basal extragemmal cells, the principal source for replenishing taste bud cells. Undifferentiated EdU-labeled cells began migrating into circumvallate taste buds within 1 day of their birth. Type II (Receptor) taste cells began to differentiate from EdU-labeled precursors beginning 2 days after birth and then were eliminated with a half-life of 8 days. Type III (Presynaptic) taste cells began differentiating after a delay of 3 days after EdU-labeling, and they survived much longer, with a half-life of 22 days. We also scored taste bud cells that belong to neither Type II nor Type III, a heterogeneous group that includes mostly Type I cells, and also undifferentiated or immature cells. A non-linear decay fit described these cells as two sub-populations with half-lives of 8 and 24 days respectively. Our data suggest that many post-mitotic cells may remain quiescent within taste buds before differentiating into mature taste cells. A small number of slow-cycling cells may also exist within the perimeter of the taste bud. Based on their incidence, we hypothesize that these may be progenitors for Type III cells.     

Maintenance of rat taste buds in primary culture

The differentiated taste bud is a complex end organ consisting of multiple cell types with various morphological, immunocytochemical and electrophysiological characteristics. Individual taste cells have a limited lifespan and are regularly replaced by a proliferative basal cell population. The specific factors contributing to the maintenance of a differentiated taste bud are largely unknown. Supporting isolated taste buds in culture would allow controlled investigation of factors relevant to taste bud survival. Here we describe the culture and maintenance of isolated rat taste buds at room temperature and at 37 degrees C. Differentiated taste buds can be sustained for up to 14 days at room temperature and for 3-4 days at 37 degrees C. Over these periods individual cells within the cultured buds maintain an elongated morphology. Further, the taste cells remain electrically excitable and retain various proteins indicative of a differentiated phenotype. Despite the apparent health of differentiated taste cells, cell division occurs for only a short period following plating, suggesting that proliferating cells in the taste bud are quickly affected by isolation and culture.     

Liposome‐mediated transfection of mature taste cells

The introduction and expression of exogenous DNA in neurons is valuable for analyzing a range of cellular and molecular processes in the periphery, e.g., the roles of transduction‐related proteins, the impact of growth factors on development and differentiation, and the function of promoters specific to cell type. However, sensory receptor cells, particularly chemosensory cells, have been difficult to transfect. We have successfully introduced plasmids expressing green and Discosoma Red fluorescent proteins (GFP and DsRed) into rat taste buds in primary culture. Transfection efficiency increased when delaminated taste epithelium was redigested with fresh protease, suggesting that a protective barrier of extracellular matrix surrounding taste cells may normally be present. Because taste buds are heterogeneous aggregates of cells, we used α‐gustducin, neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), and neuronal ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase (PGP9.5), markers for defined subsets of mature taste cells, to demonstrate that liposome‐mediated transfection targets multiple taste cell types. After testing eight commercially available lipids, we identified one, Transfast, that is most effective on taste cells. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of two common “promiscuous” promoters and one promoter that taste cells use endogenously. These studies should permit ex vivo strategies for studying development and cellular function in taste cells. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Neurobiol, 2005     

Expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors in taste buds of mouse and hamster

Taste buds are specialized epithelial cell clusters in the oral squamous cell epithelium. Although taste buds have been reported to renew rapidly, the mechanism of cell cycle control in these specialized structures remains unresolved. To clarify the cell cycle status and role of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKI) for cell cycle control in the taste buds, we analyzed cell proliferation activity using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and Ki-67 immunostainings and the expression of the Cip/Kip family of CDKI (p21Cip1, p27Kip1, and p57Kip2) in the circumvallate papillae of mouse and hamster. BrdU-positive cells were detected in the basal layer of the oral epithelium. In the taste buds, Ki-67-positive cells were seen in the basal area, with only a very few positive cells in the taste buds. Both p21Cip1 and p27Kip1 positive cells were seen in the suprabasal layer of the non-gustatory oral epithelium. In the taste buds, stronger p27Kip1 staining was detected than in the non-gustatory epithelium. Western blotting analysis revealed that p27Kip1 was abundant in the mucosal tissues from circumvallate papillae. Thus, our study suggests that the taste bud cells except for basal cells are post-mitotic cells and that the cell cycle arrest associated with taste bud cell differentiation could be regulated predominantly by p27Kip1.     

Chronic hypoxia alters calbindin D-28k immunoreactivity in lingual and laryngeal taste buds in the rat

The distribution and abundance of the calcium binding protein, calbindin D-28k (CB) immunoreactivity in the taste buds of the circumvallate papillae and larynx were compared between normoxic and chronically hypoxic rats (10% O2 for 8 weeks). In the normoxic rats, CB immunoreactivity was observed in some cells and fibers of the intragemmal region of the taste buds in the circumvallate papillae. In contrast, in the subgemmal region of the laryngeal taste buds, fibers but not cells were immunoreactive for CB. In chronically hypoxic rats, CB immunoreactive cells and fibers in the taste buds were decreased in the circumvallate papillae. In the laryngeal taste buds, the density of the subgemmal CB immunoreactive fibers in chronically hypoxic rats was greater than in normoxic rats. It is considered that function of the laryngeal taste buds is different from that of the lingual taste buds, so that laryngeal taste buds may be involved in chemosensation other than taste. The altered density of CB immunoreactive cells and fibers in the lingual and laryngeal taste buds is a predominant feature of hypoxic adaptation, and chronic hypoxic exposure might change the chemical sensitivity of the circumvallate papillae and larynx through the regulation of intracellular Ca2+.