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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-4-14
pubmed:abstractText
Neurotransmitters in vertebrate taste buds have not yet been identified with confidence. Serotonin, glutamate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) have been postulated, but the evidence is incomplete. We undertook an autoradiographic study of [3H]serotonin, [3H]glutamate, and [3H]GABA uptake in lingual epithelium from the amphibian, Necturus maculosus, to determine whether taste bud cells would accumulate and release these substances. Lingual epithelium containing taste buds was incubated in low concentrations (0.4-6 microM) of these tritiated transmitter candidates and the tissue was processed for light microscopic autoradiography. Merkel-like basal taste cells accumulated [3H]serotonin. When the tissue was treated with 40 mM K+ after incubating the tissue in [3H]serotonin, cells released the radiolabelled transmitter. Furthermore, depolarization (KCl)-induced release of [3H]serotonin was Ca-dependent: if Ca2+ was reduced to 0.4 mM and 20 mM Mg2+ added to the high K+ bathing solution, Merkel-like basal cells did not release [3H]serotonin. In contrast, [3H]glutamate was taken up by several cell types, including non-sensory epithelial cells, Schwann cells, and some taste bud cells. [3H]glutamate was not released by depolarizing the tissue with 40 mM K+. [3H]GABA uptake was also widespread, but did not occur in taste bud cells. [3H]GABA accumulated in non-sensory epithelial cells and Schwann cells. These data support the hypothesis that serotonin is a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator released by Merkel-like basal cells in Necturus taste buds. The data do not support (nor rule out) a neurotransmitter role for glutamate or GABA in taste buds.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
0021-9967
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
9
pubmed:volume
392
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
199-208
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
Uptake and release of neurotransmitter candidates, [3H]serotonin, [3H]glutamate, and [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid, in taste buds of the mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Physiology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.