Abstract
The mouse neuroblastoma cell (N-18 clone) was used as a model for a taste cell. The N-18 cell was found to be reversibly depolarized by various bitter substances. The minimum concentrations of bitter substances which induced depolarization (thershold concentration)_ varied greatly with the typre of the substance. There was a good correlation between the threshold concentrations for various bitter substance in the N-18 cell in the human taste responses. The input membrane resistance was little changed during the depolarization induced by the bitter substances. Replacement of Na + and Cl − with impermeable ions had practically no effect on the depolarization response to the bitter substances and reduction of calcium concentration from 1.8 to 0.2 mM led to a slight increase in the responses. It was suggested that the depolarization of the N-18 cell by bitter substances mainly stems from changes in the phase-boundary potential at the outer surface of the cell.
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