Response of the taste receptor cell to the umami-substance stimulus. An electron-microscopic study.
The chemosensory gustatory cells in taste buds form chemical synapses with intragemmal neurites. We investigated the ultrastructure of the guinea pig gustatory cells after stimulation with a mixture of monosodium L-glutamate and guanosine 5'-monophosphate. The gustatory cells responded to the stimulus. The dense-cored vesicles localized in the presynaptic regions discharged the contents into the synaptic cleft by means of exocytosis, which resulted in a marked decrease of their population. These findings strongly suggest that the transmitter or transmitters contained in the vesicles are released in response to the taste stimulation at the cell apex, to conduct the excitement of the cell to the nerves.
Yoshie
S
S
Department of Oral Anatomy, Nippon Dental University, Niigata, Japan.
Wakasugi
C
C
Teraki
Y
Y
Kanazawa
H
H
Iwanaga
T
T
Fujita
T
T
D000818:Animals; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006157:Guanosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012970:Sodium Glutamate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*
D006157:Guanosine Monophosphate; D012970:Sodium Glutamate