title: Regional differences in taste bud distribution and alpha-gustducin expression patterns in the mouse fungiform papilla.
abstract: The regional differences between distribution patterns and alpha-gustducin expression patterns of the fungiform (FF) taste buds were investigated in the adult mouse, using hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence histochemistry on the most anterior region of the tongue (the first millimeter) through the intermediate region of the tongue (the last 1-4 mm). Paraffin sections were prepared from the tip to posterior regions (anterior and intermediate region containing the FF taste buds) of the adult mouse tongue. Results indicate that there were significant regional differences in size and density of taste buds, the cell counts of the single taste bud, and the alpha-gustducin-immunoreactive taste buds between the 2 regions. The taste bud had a characteristic onion-like appearance, and the alpha-gustducin-immunoreactive cell was spindle shaped with elongated processes extending from the base to the pore of the taste buds. These results provide a detailed insight to better understand regional descriptions of mouse taste bud density and size and alpha-gustducin expression with the mouse model.
authors.affiliation: Sensory Science Laboratory, Department of Biological Science, Changshu Institute of Technology, 99 Nansanhuan Road, Changshu 215500, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. zgh@cslg.edu.cn
authors.forename: Gen-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hai-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shao-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yu-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014059:Tongue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C524407:GNAT3 protein, mouse; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins