EXCEED THE SPACE PROVIDED. Neuroactive substances play important roles as neuromodulators as well as neurotransmitters. One of them, acetylcholine (ACh), is known to be present in taste receptor cells and in nerve fibers innervating taste buds, and ACh agonists improve taste sensation in patients with taste disorders. However, mechanisms underlying physiological functions of ACh in taste receptor cells are not understood. In non-gustatory systems, five subtypes of muscarinic ACh receptors have been identified. I have shown that ACh induces increases in intracellular Ca 2 in taste receptor cells via activation of muscarinic receptors, and that positive immunoreactivity for the M 1 subtype of muscarinic receptor is present in both apical and basolateral regions of taste receptor cells. Therefore, I hypothesize that muscarinic ACh receptors may play a role in both taste modulation and taste transduction. Similarly, glutamate receptors function as taste receptors for 'umami' taste, in addition to their well known role in synaptic transmission and neuromodulation. In this proposal, I intend to further study the physiological function of ACh and its modulatory effect on taste responses, specifically bitter taste transduction. In addition, ACh receptors at apical membrane of taste receptor cells may function as taste receptors.
Three specific aims are: (1) characterize muscarinic ACh receptors in taste cells with pharmacological agents and mice deficient for a specific receptor subtype, (2) determine the second messengers that mediate ACh-induced modulation of bitter responses, and (3) determine whether musearinic receptors function as taste receptors. For these aims, experiments will be performed using Ca :+ imaging and in situ nerve recording techniques with three animal models: mouse, rat and mudpuppy. Each species has unique advantages for particular experimental approaches, and all species appear to utilize the same signal transduction mechanisms in response to ACh. Results from the proposed experiments will provide significant new information about muscarinic ACh receptors in taste buds and their role in taste modulation and perception. In addition, the proposed studies will broaden our understanding about bitter detection mechanisms. This project is expandable to investigate the physiological role of other neuroactive substances in taste cells in future experiments. PERFORMANCE SITE ========================================Section End===========================================

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03DC005140-04
Application #
6824892
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDC1-SRB-O (22))
Program Officer
Davis, Barry
Project Start
2002-12-01
Project End
2006-11-30
Budget Start
2004-12-01
Budget End
2006-11-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$77,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Colorado Denver
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041096314
City
Aurora
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80045
Ogura, Tatsuya; Margolskee, Robert F; Tallini, Yvonne N et al. (2007) Immuno-localization of vesicular acetylcholine transporter in mouse taste cells and adjacent nerve fibers: indication of acetylcholine release. Cell Tissue Res 330:17-28
Ogura, Tatsuya; Lin, Weihong (2005) Acetylcholine and acetylcholine receptors in taste receptor cells. Chem Senses 30 Suppl 1:i41
Kataoka, Shinji; Toyono, Takashi; Seta, Y et al. (2004) Expression of P2Y1 receptors in rat taste buds. Histochem Cell Biol 121:419-26
Warashina, A; Ogura, T (2004) Modeling of stimulation-secretion coupling in a chromaffin cell. Pflugers Arch 448:161-74
Perez, Cristian A; Margolskee, Robert F; Kinnamon, Sue C et al. (2003) Making sense with TRP channels: store-operated calcium entry and the ion channel Trpm5 in taste receptor cells. Cell Calcium 33:541-9