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Taste cells with synapses in rat circumvallate papillae display SNAP‐25‐like immunoreactivity
Author(s) -
Yang Ruibiao,
Crowley Hildegard H.,
Rock Michael E.,
Kinnamon John C.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/1096-9861(20000821)424:2<205::aid-cne2>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - taste bud , lingual papilla , taste , biology , snap , microbiology and biotechnology , taste receptor , neuroscience , exocytosis , immunocytochemistry , endocrinology , biochemistry , membrane , computer graphics (images) , computer science
SNAP‐25 is a 25 kDa protein believed to be involved in the processes of membrane fusion and exocytosis associated with neurotransmitter release. In the present study we present evidence that SNAP‐25‐like immunoreactivity can be used as a marker for taste cells with synapses in rat circumvallate papillae. SNAP‐25 immunoreactivity is present in most intragemmal nerve processes and a small subset of taste cells. Intense immunoreactivity is associated with the nerve plexus located below the base of the taste bud. Of a total of 87 taste cells with synapses onto nerve processes, 80 of the presynaptic taste cells had SNAP‐25 immunoreactivity. The association of SNAP‐25 immunoreactivity with taste cells possessing synapses suggests that these cells may be gustatory receptor cells. Because this SNAP‐25 antibody can label taste cells with synapses, it may also serve as a useful tool for future studies correlating structure with function in the taste bud. J. Comp. Neurol. 424:205–215, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.