title: Cell communication in taste buds.
abstract: Taste bud cells communicate with sensory afferent fibers and may also exchange information with adjacent cells. Indeed, communication between taste cells via conventional and/or novel synaptic interactions may occur prior to signal output to primary afferent fibers. This review discusses synaptic processing in taste buds and summarizes results showing that it is now possible to measure real-time release of synaptic transmitters during taste stimulation using cellular biosensors. There is strong evidence that serotonin and ATP play a role in cell-to-cell signaling and sensory output in the gustatory end organs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1600 NW 10th Ave., Miami, FL, 33136, USA. roper@miami.edu
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Roper
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate