Turnover of the chemosensory cells of the gustatory and olfactory system necessitates substantial neuronal growth and remodelling of synaptic connections in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Experiments within this project are designed to test the degree of neuronal growth and plasticity in these systems through the use of immunocytochemical probes which are directed against neuronal growth-related antigens. These experiments will examine primary chemosensory nerves and the receptor cells of the taste buds for evidence of immunoreactivity to antibodies directed against the neuronal membrane proteins 5B4 and GAP- 43, both of which are present in high levels in growing neurons but are reduced in synaptically stable neurons. Taste bud cells themselves will be tested for the presence of GAP-43 since some taste cells express 5B4 immunoreactivity. Tritiated thymidine techniques will be utilized to correlate the presence of these immunoreactivities with relative age of the taste cells. Primary gustatory nerve terminals within the CNS also will be tested for immunoreactivity to these growth-related markers. In addition, the ultrastructure of primary gustatory terminals within the CNS will be examined in a continuation of our studies attempting to relate terminal morphology to chemospecificity. Finally, the olfactory system will be examined for 5B4 and GAP-43 immunoreactivities since olfactory neurons continue to be generated and grow into adulthood. Biochemical maturation of the receptors will be studied by means of immunoreactivity to olfactory marker protein, and the growth-related neural antigens. In addition, collaborative studies will continue in terms of determination of the taste bud neurotransmitter, identification of neuropeptides in human biopsy material, and delineation of nerve fibers within taste buds.

Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Colorado Denver
Department
Type
DUNS #
065391526
City
Aurora
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80045
Finger, Thomas E; Bartel, Dianna L; Shultz, Nicole et al. (2017) 5HTR3A-driven GFP labels immature olfactory sensory neurons. J Comp Neurol 525:1743-1755
Tizzano, Marco; Finger, Thomas E (2013) Chemosensors in the nose: guardians of the airways. Physiology (Bethesda) 28:51-60
Finger, Thomas E (2009) Evolution of gustatory reflex systems in the brainstems of fishes. Integr Zool 4:53-63
Ikenaga, Takanori; Ogura, Tatsuya; Finger, Thomas E (2009) Vagal gustatory reflex circuits for intraoral food sorting behavior in the goldfish: cellular organization and neurotransmitters. J Comp Neurol 516:213-25
Huesa, Gema; Ikenaga, Takanori; Bottger, Barbel et al. (2008) Calcium-fluxing glutamate receptors associated with primary gustatory afferent terminals in goldfish (Carassius auratus). J Comp Neurol 506:694-707
Finger, Thomas E (2008) Sorting food from stones: the vagal taste system in Goldfish, Carassius auratus. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 194:135-43
Yee, Cindy; Bartel, Dianna L; Finger, Thomas E (2005) Effects of glossopharyngeal nerve section on the expression of neurotrophins and their receptors in lingual taste buds of adult mice. J Comp Neurol 490:371-90
Linschoten, Miriam R; Harvey Jr, Lewis O (2004) Detecting malingerers by means of response-sequence analysis. Percept Psychophys 66:1190-201
Hall, Joshua M H; Bell, Melanie L; Finger, Thomas E (2003) Disruption of sonic hedgehog signaling alters growth and patterning of lingual taste papillae. Dev Biol 255:263-77
Finger, Thomas E; Bottger, Barbel; Hansen, Anne et al. (2003) Solitary chemoreceptor cells in the nasal cavity serve as sentinels of respiration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100:8981-6

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