Expression of tryptophan hydroxylase in developing mouse taste papillae.
Gustatory papillae and associated taste buds receive and process chemical information from the environment. In mammals, their development takes place during the late phase of embryogenesis. However, the cellular factors that regulate the differentiation of taste papillae remain largely unknown. Here, we show by quantitative real time RT-PCR that both isoforms of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH1 and TPH2), the first and rate limiting enzyme of serotonin (5-HT) synthesis, are expressed in developing circumvallate papillae. Immuno-staining experiments further indicated that TPH is localized both in gustatory fibers and in differentiated taste receptor cells. These results point to the synthesis of 5-HT in gustatory papillae, and allow one to hypothesize that the development of taste buds might be modulated by serotonin.
Ortíz-Alvarado
Rafael
R
UMR Physiologie des Adaptations Nutritionnelles, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique-Université de Nantes, Rue de la Géraudière, B.P. 71627, 44316 Nantes, France.
Guzmán-Quevedo
Omar
O
Mercado-Camargo
Rosalio
R
Haertle
Thomas
T
Vignes
Caroline
C
Bolaños-Jiménez
Francisco
F
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D007527:Isoenzymes; D012701:Serotonin; C487801:Tph1 protein, mouse; C487802:Tph2 protein, mouse; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase