Spielman A I
Basic Science Division, New York University College of Dentistry, New York 10010, USA.
Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. 1998;9(3):267-91. doi: 10.1177/10454411980090030201.
Taste and smell are fundamental sensory systems essential in nutrition and food selection, for the hedonic and sensory experience of food, for efficient metabolism, and, in general, for the maintenance of a good quality of life. The gustatory and olfactory systems demonstrate a diversity of transduction mechanisms, and during the last decade, considerable progress has been made toward our understanding of the basic mechanisms of taste and smell. Understanding normal chemosensory function helps clarify the molecular events that underlie taste and smell disorders. At least 2,000,000 Americans suffer from chemosensory disorders--a number that is likely to grow as the aging segment of the population increases. Smell disorders are more frequent than taste disturbances, due to the vulnerability and anatomical distinctiveness of the olfactory system, and because a decline in olfactory function is part of the normal aging process. Common gustatory and olfactory complaints are due to a number of medications, to upper respiratory infections, to nasal and paranasal sinus diseases, and to damage to peripheral nerves supplying taste and smell. Most chemosensory complaints have an identifiable cause. Although diagnosis of taste and smell disorders has improved considerably over the last two decades, treatment of these disorders is still limited to conditions with discernible and reversible causes. Future research is needed for a better understanding of chemosensory mechanisms, establishing improved diagnostic procedures, and disseminating knowledge on chemosensory disorders among practitioners and the general public.
味觉和嗅觉是基本的感觉系统，对营养和食物选择、食物的享乐和感官体验、高效代谢以及总体上维持良好生活质量至关重要。味觉和嗅觉系统展示了多种转导机制，在过去十年中，我们对味觉和嗅觉的基本机制的理解取得了相当大的进展。了解正常的化学感觉功能有助于阐明味觉和嗅觉障碍背后的分子事件。至少有200万美国人患有化学感觉障碍——随着老年人口的增加，这个数字可能会上升。嗅觉障碍比味觉障碍更常见，这是由于嗅觉系统的脆弱性和解剖学独特性，以及嗅觉功能下降是正常衰老过程的一部分。常见的味觉和嗅觉问题是由多种药物、上呼吸道感染、鼻和鼻窦疾病以及供应味觉和嗅觉的外周神经损伤引起的。大多数化学感觉问题都有可识别的原因。尽管在过去二十年中，味觉和嗅觉障碍的诊断有了很大改善，但这些障碍的治疗仍然仅限于有可辨别的可逆原因的情况。未来需要进行研究，以更好地理解化学感觉机制，建立改进的诊断程序，并在从业者和公众中传播有关化学感觉障碍的知识。
