Abstract
The vallate gustatory epithelium of neonatal trkB null mutant mice (-/-) lacked innervation. This prompted the evaluation of null mutant mice corresponding to the three neurotrophin ligands for tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB): brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin (NT)3, NT4. The vallate gustatory epithelium of nt3-/- mice and of nt4-/- mice appeared normal. Only bdnf-/- mice had a vallate papilla that was stunted, sparsely innervated, and lacked up to 98% of its taste buds. All three defects persisted. For example, the vallate papilla of 12-day-old bdnf-/- mice remained markedly less well innervated than the vallate of 7-day-old or newborn bdnf+/+ mice. The foliate taste papillae of neonatal bdnf-/- mice had similar defects. We conclude that the normal development of taste neurons requires BDNF.
Publication types
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Aging / physiology
-
Animals
-
Animals, Newborn
-
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / deficiency
-
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics
-
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / physiology*
-
Crosses, Genetic
-
Female
-
Heterozygote
-
Immunohistochemistry
-
Male
-
Mice
-
Mice, Knockout
-
Nerve Growth Factors / deficiency
-
Nerve Growth Factors / genetics
-
Nerve Growth Factors / physiology
-
Neurons / cytology
-
Neurons / physiology*
-
Neurotrophin 3
-
Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor
-
Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism
-
Taste Buds / cytology
-
Taste Buds / growth & development
-
Taste Buds / physiology*
Substances
-
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
-
Nerve Growth Factors
-
Neurotrophin 3
-
Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor
-
Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
-
neurotrophin 4