Reduction of electrical coupling between Necturus taste receptor cells, a possible role in acid taste.
Cytoplasmic acidification in taste receptor cells is thought to be involved, at least in part, in acid taste transduction. Since in taste buds about 20% of the receptor cells are electrically coupled, we have tested whether reduction in intracellular pH affects these lateral synaptic interactions. By applying the patch clamp technique to a slice preparation of Necturus lingual epithelium, we found that electrical coupling between taste receptor cells was strongly reduced by cytoplasmic acidification. Therefore, electrical coupling in taste buds might be modified during acid stimulation.
Bigiani
A
A
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.
Roper
S D
SD
D000143:Acids; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009337:Necturus; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000502:physiology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000294:innervation
D000143:Acids; D015222:Sodium Channels