title: The taste system of the channel catfish: from biophysics to behavior.
abstract: Catfish, described as 'swimming tongues', are unique experimental models for studies of taste reception because of the extensive distribution of taste buds over their external body surface and within their oropharyngeal cavity. Both the extraordinary numbers of taste buds and their high sensitivity to amino acids have made it possible to perform in the same species: biochemical and biophysical studies of stimulus recognition and signal transduction; electrophysiological recordings of taste activity from receptor cells, afferent nerve fibers and CNS relays; and behavioral studies of taste-controlled food search, biting and mastication. The close correspondence of results obtained with these diverse experimental approaches has provided critical information concerning vertebrate gustation.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Zoology and Physiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803-1725.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caprio
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Teeter
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valentincic
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kalinoski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kohbara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumazawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wegert
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids; D000818:Animals; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D007059:Ictaluridae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D007473:Ion Channels; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins