title: Sweet preference modified by early experience in mice and the related molecular modulations on the peripheral pathway.
abstract: The sweet taste is of immense interest to scientists and has been intensively studied during the last two decades. However, the sweet preference modification and the related mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we try to establish a mice model with manipulated sweet taste preference and explore the involved possible molecular mechanisms. The animals were exposed to acesulfame-K via maternal milk during lactation and the sweet preference tests were carried out when they grew to adulthood. Our results showed that the preference thresholds for sweet taste were increased in adults by early acesulfame-K exposure and the preference ratios for sweet tastants at low or preferred concentrations were decreased. Moreover, by means of qRT-PCR and Western blot, we observed the increased expression of leptin receptor Ob-Rb and downregulation of Gα-gustducin protein in the soft palate. Thereby, the sweet taste sensitivity may be modified by early sweetener experience during lactation. Along the peripheral sweet sensory pathway, the sweet regulator receptors Ob-Rb, CB1 and components of sweet transduction signal Gα-gustducin and T1R2 in both the soft palate and tongue may be cooperatively involved in the plastic development of sweet taste.
authors.affiliation: Sensory Science Laboratory, School of Bioscience and Food Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, Nansanhuan Road 99, Changshu, 215500, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei-Li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Meng-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Si-Si
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Guo-Liang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tian-Yuan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yu-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Yue-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Gen-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D007774:Lactation; D051379:Mice; D010159:Palate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D013843:Thiazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015293:Transducin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D013843:Thiazines; C515447:leptin receptor, mouse; C431926:taste receptors, type 1; D015293:Transducin; C006362:acetosulfame