Abstract
An immunohistochemical examination of guinea-pig taste buds in vallate papillae revealed gustducin-immunoreactive cells in the area of von Ebner’s glands, minor salivary glands. Since there have been no reports describing those cells in these locations for other species, we investigated these glands in order both to localize the cells and compare their immunoreactive characteristics with corresponding cells in the vallate taste buds. The gustducin-immunoreactive cells coincided with cells containing no secretory granules in the end portion of the glands, which was supported by the electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry. Double immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed these cells to be entirely immunopositive to type III inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R-3), phospholipase Cβ2 (PLCβ2), and villin and also partly immunopositive to neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and calbindin D-28K. The gustducin-immunoreactive cells in the vallate taste buds exhibited completely the same immunoreactivities for these five molecules. Accordingly, the present results give credence to a consideration that the gustducin-immunnoreactive cells in both locations are identical in function(s) e.g., chemo-reception.
Highlights
Over recent decades, gustatory receptors and signal-transducing molecules have been progressively elucidated
Since there have been no reports describing those cells in these locations for other species, we investigated these glands in order both to localize the cells and compare their immunoreactive characteristics with corresponding cells in the vallate taste buds
In the vallate taste bud, those cells likewise were entirely immunopositive to IP3R-3, phospholipase Cb2 (PLCb2), and villin and Calbindin D-28K
Summary
Gustatory receptors and signal-transducing molecules have been progressively elucidated. Among molecules corresponding to the taste reception– transduction system, gustducin, a G-protein a subunit, was primarily cloned in murine taste buds by McLaughlin et al (1992). During the course of our immunohistochemical examination of taste buds in vallate papillae of guinea pigs, gustducin-immunoreactive cells were encountered in the area of von Ebner’s glands. These glands are minor salivary glands shallowly located in the tongue radix and open their ducts at the grooved bottoms of the vallate and foliate papillae, where many taste buds exist in the epithelial layer facing the grooves. As we are aware, there are no articles describing such cells in von Ebner’s glands
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