*These authors contributed equally to this work.
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2014 May;69(5):532-44. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glt129. Epub 2013 Sep 28.
Calorie restriction (CR) is a lifestyle intervention employed to reduce body weight and improve metabolic functions primarily via reduction of ingested carbohydrates and fats. Taste perception is highly related to functional metabolic status and body adiposity. We have previously shown that sweet taste perception diminishes with age; however, relatively little is known about the effects of various lengths of CR upon taste cell morphology and function. We investigated the effects of CR on taste bud morphology and expression of sweet taste-related modulators in 5-, 17-, and 30-month-old rats. In ad libitum (AL) and CR rats, we consistently found the following parameters altered significantly with advancing age: reduction of taste bud size and taste cell numbers per taste bud and reduced expression of sonic hedgehog, type 1 taste receptor 3 (T1r3), α-gustducin, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). In the oldest rats, CR affected a significant reduction of tongue T1r3, GLP-1, and α-gustducin expression compared with age-matched AL rats. Leptin receptor immunopositive cells were elevated in 17- and 30-month-old CR rats compared with age-matched AL rats. These alterations of sweet taste-related modulators, specifically during advanced aging, suggest that sweet taste perception may be altered in response to different lengths of CR.
热量限制（CR）是一种生活方式干预措施，主要通过减少摄入的碳水化合物和脂肪来减轻体重和改善代谢功能。味觉感知与功能代谢状态和身体肥胖密切相关。我们之前已经表明，随着年龄的增长，甜味感知会减弱；然而，对于 CR 对味觉细胞形态和功能的各种影响，人们知之甚少。我们研究了 CR 对 5 个月、17 个月和 30 个月大的大鼠的味蕾形态和甜味相关调节剂表达的影响。在自由进食（AL）和 CR 大鼠中，我们一致发现以下参数随着年龄的增长而显著变化：味蕾大小和每个味蕾的味觉细胞数量减少，以及 sonic hedgehog、T1r3、α- gustducin 和胰高血糖素样肽-1（GLP-1）的表达减少。在最年长的大鼠中，CR 与同龄的 AL 大鼠相比，显著影响了舌 T1r3、GLP-1 和 α- gustducin 的表达减少。与同龄的 AL 大鼠相比，17 个月和 30 个月大的 CR 大鼠中的瘦素受体免疫阳性细胞升高。这些甜味相关调节剂的改变，特别是在衰老晚期，表明甜味感知可能会因不同长度的 CR 而改变。
