DEVELOPMENT OF THE SENSE OF TASTE

描述（改编自研究者摘要）：提案 研究外周和中枢味觉的早期发育 老鼠的系统 三个具体目标建立在主要的 研究者证明味觉乳头将在体外形成， 缺乏正常感觉器官的胚胎大鼠舌器官培养 神经支配 具体目标1将决定 器官培养中的发育作为胚胎年龄的函数 组织. 它将试图建立胚胎年龄阈值和削减- offs. 特定目标2确定体内分子特征 舌头的器官在器官培养中得以维持。 目标3决定效果 共同培养舌头的味觉和非味觉感觉 乳头神经节和味蕾的形成。 具体目标4 5处理二级味觉神经元的发育和利用脑干 NST的切片，以探索神经元电路的基本变化， 功能具体目标4检验了这样一个假设，即成年人的 NST神经元对兴奋性和抑制性刺激的敏感性 神经递质在出生后逐渐获得。 Aim 5测试 大鼠内源性神经递质特性假说 NST细胞被饮食钠剥夺改变。 这些体外 系统以前没有被用来研究味觉的发展， 影响食物选择和营养的感觉。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from the Investigator's Abstract): The proposal deals with very early development of peripheral and central taste systems in the rat. Three of the specific aims build on the principal investigator's demonstration that taste papillae will form in vitro from organ cultures of the embryonic rat tongue lacking normal sensory innervation. Specific Aim 1 will determine the potential for development in organ culture as a function of the age of the embryonic tissue. It will attempt to establish embryo age thresholds and cut- offs. Specific Aim 2 determines if in vivo molecular characteristics of tongue are maintained in organ culture. Aim 3 determines the effects of co-culturing the tongue with gustatory and nongustatory sensory ganglia on papilla and taste-bud formation in vitro. Specific aims 4 nd 5 deal with second order taste neuron development and utilize brainstem slices of the NST to explore basic changes in neuron circuitry and function. Specific Aim 4 tests the hypothesis that the adult level of sensitivity of NST neurons to excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters is acquired gradually following birth. Aim 5 tests the hypothesis that intrinsic neurotransmitter characteristics of rat NST cells are altered by dietary sodium deprivation. These in vitro systems have not previously been used to study development in taste, a sense that influences food selection and nutrition.