Bigiani A, Roper S D
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.
Neurosci Lett. 1994 Aug 1;176(2):212-6. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(94)90085-x.
Cytoplasmic acidification in taste receptor cells is thought to be involved, at least in part, in acid taste transduction. Since in taste buds about 20% of the receptor cells are electrically coupled, we have tested whether reduction in intracellular pH affects these lateral synaptic interactions. By applying the patch clamp technique to a slice preparation of Necturus lingual epithelium, we found that electrical coupling between taste receptor cells was strongly reduced by cytoplasmic acidification. Therefore, electrical coupling in taste buds might be modified during acid stimulation.
味觉受体细胞中的细胞质酸化被认为至少部分参与了酸味转导。由于在味蕾中约20%的受体细胞是电耦合的，我们测试了细胞内pH值的降低是否会影响这些侧向突触相互作用。通过将膜片钳技术应用于美洲大鲵舌上皮切片标本，我们发现细胞质酸化会强烈降低味觉受体细胞之间的电耦合。因此，在酸刺激过程中，味蕾中的电耦合可能会发生改变。
