The long term objective of the research is to continue developing an animal model using the Fischer-344 laboratory rat for the study of the effects of age on the sense of taste. Special attention will be given to behavioral studies of the taste of sucrose. Since it has been shown that the palate of the rat, more so than the tongue, is of particular importance in mediating the taste of sucrose, the distribution and density of palatal taste buds will be studied in the Fischer-344 rat. The unique aspect of this description of palatal tastes buds will be that it will be made from rats with a known history of sucrose preference and sucrose thresholds, yielding a correlation between sucrose avidity and thresholds and density or distribution of palatal taste buds. Since the palatal taste buds are supported by the greater superficial petrosal nerve, a series of experiments will be conducted investigating the role of this nerve in the perception of sucrose by the rat. Finally, it will be observed if long term experience with sucrose in younger rats effects the avidity or thresholds for sucrose in older age. Emphasis will be placed on longitudinal rather than cross-sectioanl studies. The effects of age on taste in humans is not understood and the literature is filled with controversies in both psychophysical and anatomical studies. There is little literature on the changes in the palate with age. This may be very important especially for denture wearers. Variability is so large within age groups that without longitudinal studies changes occuring with age are obscured.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG004932-06
Application #
3115464
Study Section
Sensory Disorders and Language Study Section (CMS)
Project Start
1988-04-01
Project End
1992-03-31
Budget Start
1990-04-01
Budget End
1991-03-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Florida State University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
020520466
City
Tallahassee
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32306
Smith, James C; Sclafani, Anthony (2002) Saccharin as a sugar surrogate revisited. Appetite 38:155-60
Thaw, A K (1996) Changes in taste threshold over the life span of the Sprague-Dawley rat. Chem Senses 21:189-93
Glendinning, J I; Smith, J C (1994) Consistency of meal patterns in laboratory rats. Physiol Behav 56:7-16
O'Keefe, G B; Schumm, J; Smith, J C (1994) Loss of sensitivity to low concentrations of NaCl following bilateral chorda tympani nerve sections in rats. Chem Senses 19:169-84
Rhinehart-Doty, J A; Schumm, J; Smith, J C et al. (1994) A non-taste cue of sucrose in short-term taste tests in rats. Chem Senses 19:425-31
Rowland, N E; Nicholson, T M; Smith, J C (1993) Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and Na appetite: microbehavioral analysis and nycthemeral physiology. Am J Physiol 265:R7-13
Stricker, E M; Gannon, K S; Smith, J C (1992) Thirst and salt appetite induced by hypovolemia in rats: analysis of drinking behavior. Physiol Behav 51:27-37
Smith, J C; Davis, J D; O'Keefe, G B (1992) Lack of an order effect in brief contact taste tests with closely spaced test trials. Physiol Behav 52:1107-11
Gannon, K S; Smith, J C; Henderson, R et al. (1992) A system for studying the microstructure of ingestive behavior in mice. Physiol Behav 51:515-21
Stricker, E M; Gannon, K S; Smith, J C (1992) Salt appetite induced by DOCA treatment or adrenalectomy in rats: analysis of ingestive behavior. Physiol Behav 52:793-802

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