Sweet-bitter and umami-bitter taste interactions in single parabrachial neurons in C57BL/6J mice. 2012

Kenichi Tokita, and John D Boughter
Dept. of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Univ. of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.

We investigated sweet-bitter and umami-bitter mixture taste interactions by presenting sucrose or umami stimuli mixed with quinine hydrochloride (QHCl) while recording single-unit activity of neurons in the parabrachial nucleus (PbN) of urethane-anesthetized C57BL/6J mice. A total of 70 taste-responsive neurons were classified according to which stimulus evoked the greatest net response (36 sucrose-best, 19 NaCl-best, 6 citric acid-best, and 9 QHCl-best). Although no neurons responded best to monopotassium glutamate (MPG) or inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP), the combination of these two stimuli evoked a synergistic response (i.e., response > 120% of the sum of the component responses) in all sucrose-best and some NaCl-best neurons (n = 43). Adding QHCl to sucrose or MPG + IMP resulted in suppression of the response (responses to mixture < responses to the more effective component) in 41 of 43 synergistic neurons. Neurons showing QHCl suppression were classified into two types: an "MS1" type (n = 27) with suppressed responses both to sucrose and MPG + IMP and an "MS2" type (n = 14) that showed suppressed responses only to sucrose. No neuron displayed suppressed responses to MPG or IMP alone. The suppression ratio (1 - mixture response/sucrose or MPG + IMP response) of sucrose and MPG + IMP in MS1 neurons had a weak positive correlation (r = 0.36). The pattern of reconstructed recording sites of neuron types suggested chemotopic organization in the PbN. Although a peripheral basis for QHCl suppression has been demonstrated, our results suggest that convergence in the PbN plays a role in shaping responses to taste mixtures.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007291 Inosine Monophosphate Inosine 5'-Monophosphate. A purine nucleotide which has hypoxanthine as the base and one phosphate group esterified to the sugar moiety. IMP,Inosinic Acid,Ribosylhypoxanthine Monophosphate,Inosinic Acids,Sodium Inosinate,Acid, Inosinic,Acids, Inosinic,Inosinate, Sodium,Monophosphate, Inosine,Monophosphate, Ribosylhypoxanthine
D008297 Male Males
D008810 Mice, Inbred C57BL One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases. Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D009474 Neurons The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D011803 Quinine An alkaloid derived from the bark of the cinchona tree. It is used as an antimalarial drug, and is the active ingredient in extracts of the cinchona that have been used for that purpose since before 1633. Quinine is also a mild antipyretic and analgesic and has been used in common cold preparations for that purpose. It was used commonly and as a bitter and flavoring agent, and is still useful for the treatment of babesiosis. Quinine is also useful in some muscular disorders, especially nocturnal leg cramps and myotonia congenita, because of its direct effects on muscle membrane and sodium channels. The mechanisms of its antimalarial effects are not well understood. Biquinate,Legatrim,Myoquin,Quinamm,Quinbisan,Quinbisul,Quindan,Quinimax,Quinine Bisulfate,Quinine Hydrochloride,Quinine Lafran,Quinine Sulfate,Quinine Sulphate,Quinine-Odan,Quinoctal,Quinson,Quinsul,Strema,Surquina,Bisulfate, Quinine,Hydrochloride, Quinine,Sulfate, Quinine,Sulphate, Quinine
D001933 Brain Stem The part of the brain that connects the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES with the SPINAL CORD. It consists of the MESENCEPHALON; PONS; and MEDULLA OBLONGATA. Brainstem,Truncus Cerebri,Brain Stems,Brainstems,Cerebri, Truncus,Cerebrus, Truncus,Truncus Cerebrus
D005073 Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory The electric response evoked in the CEREBRAL CORTEX by stimulation along AFFERENT PATHWAYS from PERIPHERAL NERVES to CEREBRUM. Somatosensory Evoked Potentials,Evoked Potential, Somatosensory,Somatosensory Evoked Potential
D005971 Glutamates Derivatives of GLUTAMIC ACID. Included under this heading are a broad variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the 2-aminopentanedioic acid structure. Glutamic Acid Derivatives,Glutamic Acids,Glutaminic Acids
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012965 Sodium Chloride A ubiquitous sodium salt that is commonly used to season food. Sodium Chloride, (22)Na,Sodium Chloride, (24)NaCl

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