Integration of gustatory and somatosensory information in the tongue

项目摘要 味蕾是负责检测和加工味觉信号的感觉元件。 在舌前部，它们受味觉纤维（来自鼓索神经）的支配， 信号传递到大脑，但也通过丰富的躯体感觉纤维网络（来自三叉神经的舌分支 神经）由伤害性刺激激活。这种紧密的接近提供了一个理想的位置，以促进互动 两个系统之间。该项目的主要目标是更好地理解和表征这些 在中枢神经系统对信号进行进一步处理之前，在舌头水平上进行相互作用。我们将 使用各种技术与转基因动物相结合，以测试各种假设， 神经肽和神经递质从躯体感觉纤维释放并激活味觉细胞， 引起味觉反应的调节。我们将利用光遗传学的优势， 体感纤维与光，并研究其激活对味觉细胞和味觉反应的影响。如果 成功，这个探索性的研究项目将支持理论，味觉和 身体感觉系统出现在舌头上，为未来的拨款申请提供了足够的试点数据。的 收集的数据将扩大我们对食物感知的多模式方面的理解， 提供提高营养上优选的食物的享乐价值的方法。

PROJECT SUMMARY Taste buds are the sensory elements responsible for the detection and elaboration of the taste signal. In the anterior tongue, they are innervated by gustatory fibers (from the chorda tympani nerve) transmitting the signal to the brain but also by a rich network of somatosensory fibers (from the lingual branch of the trigeminal nerve) activated by nociceptive stimuli. This close proximity presents an ideal location to facilitate interactions between the two systems. The main goal of this project is to better understand and characterize these interactions at the tongue level, before further processing of the signal in the central nervous system. We will use a variety of techniques in combination with transgenic animals to test the hypothesis that various neuropeptides and neurotransmitters are released from somatosensory fibers and activate taste cells, which causes a modulation of gustatory responses. We will take advantage of optogenetics to specifically stimulate somatosensory fibers with light and study the effects of their activation on taste cells and taste responses. If successful, this exploratory research project will support the theory that interactions between the gustatory and somatosensory systems occur in the tongue and provide enough pilot data for a future grant application. The data collected will expand our understanding of the multi-modal aspect of food perception and ultimately, provide approaches to improve the hedonic value of nutritionally preferable foods.