title: Arecoline Alters Taste Bud Cell Morphology, Reduces Body Weight, and Induces Behavioral Preference Changes in Gustatory Discrimination in C57BL/6 Mice.
abstract: Arecoline, a major alkaloid in areca nuts, is involved in the pathogenesis of oral diseases. Mammalian taste buds are the structural unit for detecting taste stimuli in the oral cavity. The effects of arecoline on taste bud morphology are poorly understood. Arecoline was injected intraperitoneally (IP) into C57BL/6 mice twice daily for 1-4 weeks. After arecoline treatment, the vallate papillae were processed for electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry analysis of taste receptor proteins (T1R2, T1R3, T1R1, and T2R) and taste associated proteins (α-gustducin, PLCβ2, and SNAP25). Body weight, food intake and water consumption were recorded. A 2-bottle preference test was also performed. The results demonstrated that 1) arecoline treatment didn't change the number and size of the taste buds or taste bud cells, 2) electron microscopy revealed the change of organelles and the accumulation of autophagosomes in type II cells, 3) immunohistochemistry demonstrated a decrease of taste receptor T1R2- and T1R3-expressing cells, 4) the body weight and food intake were markedly reduced, and 5) the sweet preference behavior was reduced. We concluded that the long-term injection of arecoline alters the morphology of type II taste bud cells, retards the growth of mice, and affects discrimination competencies for sweet tastants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 1-1 Jen-Ai Road, Taipei 10051, Taiwan and.
authors.forename: Wei-Hau
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, 46, Sec. 3, Zhongzheng Road, Sanzhi District, New Taipei City 252, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yat-Pang
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 1-1 Jen-Ai Road, Taipei 10051, Taiwan and.
authors.forename: Kuo-Shyan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 1-1 Jen-Ai Road, Taipei 10051, Taiwan and.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Ni
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Kung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001115:Arecoline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C431926:taste receptors, type 1; D001115:Arecoline
keywords: electron microscopy; gustatory discrimination; morphological alteration; sweet preference; taste bud cell