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Responses of cultured rat trigeminal ganglion neurons to bitter tastants.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Liu, L; Simon, SA
Published in: Chem Senses
April 1998

The initial steps in taste and olfaction result from the activation by chemical stimuli of taste receptor cells (TRCs) and olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). In parallel with these two pathways is the chemosensitive trigeminal pathway whose neurons terminate in the oral and nasal cavities and which are activated by many of the same chemical stimuli that activate TRCs and ORNs. In a recent single unit study we investigated the responses of rat chorda tympani and glossopharnygeal neurons to a variety of bitter-tasting alkaloids, including nicotine, yohimbine, quinine, strychnine and caffeine, as well as capsaicin, the pungent ingredient in hot pepper. Here we apply many of these same compounds to cultured rat trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons and measure changes in intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i to determine whether TG neurons will respond to these same compounds. Of the 89 neurons tested, 34% responded to 1 mM nicotine, 7% to 1 mM caffeine, 5% to 1 mM denatonium benzoate, 22% to 1 mM quinine hydrochloride, 18% to 1 mM strychnine and 55% to 1 microM capsaicin. These data suggest that neurons from the TG respond to the same bitter-tasting chemical stimuli as do TRCs and are likely to contribute information sent to the higher CNS regarding the perception of bitter/irritating chemical stimuli.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Chem Senses

DOI

ISSN

0379-864X

Publication Date

April 1998

Volume

23

Issue

2

Start / End Page

125 / 130

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Trigeminal Ganglion
  • Taste
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Neurons, Afferent
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Fluorescence
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Calcium
  • Animals
 

Citation

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Liu, L., & Simon, S. A. (1998). Responses of cultured rat trigeminal ganglion neurons to bitter tastants. Chem Senses, 23(2), 125–130. https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/23.2.125
Liu, L., and S. A. Simon. “Responses of cultured rat trigeminal ganglion neurons to bitter tastants.Chem Senses 23, no. 2 (April 1998): 125–30. https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/23.2.125.
Liu L, Simon SA. Responses of cultured rat trigeminal ganglion neurons to bitter tastants. Chem Senses. 1998 Apr;23(2):125–30.
Liu, L., and S. A. Simon. “Responses of cultured rat trigeminal ganglion neurons to bitter tastants.Chem Senses, vol. 23, no. 2, Apr. 1998, pp. 125–30. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/chemse/23.2.125.
Liu L, Simon SA. Responses of cultured rat trigeminal ganglion neurons to bitter tastants. Chem Senses. 1998 Apr;23(2):125–130.
Journal cover image

Published In

Chem Senses

DOI

ISSN

0379-864X

Publication Date

April 1998

Volume

23

Issue

2

Start / End Page

125 / 130

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Trigeminal Ganglion
  • Taste
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Neurons, Afferent
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Fluorescence
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Calcium
  • Animals