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Expression of GDNF and GFRα1 in mouse taste bud cells
Author(s) -
Takeda Masako,
Suzuki Yuko,
Obara Nobuko,
Uchida Nobuhiko,
Kawakoshi Kentaro
Publication year - 2004
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/cne.20315
Subject(s) - glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor , immunostaining , biology , taste bud , neural cell adhesion molecule , cell type , neurotrophic factors , microbiology and biotechnology , taste , cell culture , endocrinology , medicine , receptor , cell , neuroscience , immunology , immunohistochemistry , cell adhesion , biochemistry , genetics
GDNF (glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor) affects the survival and maintenance of central and peripheral neurons. Using an immunocytochemical method, we examined whether the taste bud cells in the circumvallate papillae of normal mice expressed GDNF and its GFRα1 receptor. Using double immunostaining for either of them and NCAM, PGP 9.5, or α‐gustducin, we additionally sought to determine what type of taste bud cells expressed GDNF or GFRα1, because NCAM is reported to be expressed in type‐III cells, PGP 9.5, in type‐III and some type‐II cells, and α‐gustducin, in some type‐II cells. Normal taste bud cells expressed both GDNF and GFRα1. The percentage of GDNF‐immunoreactive cells among all taste bud cells was 31.63%, and that of GFRα1‐immunoreactive cells, 83.21%. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observations after double immunostaining showed that almost none of the GDNF‐immunoreactive cells in the taste buds were reactive with anti‐NCAM or anti‐PGP 9.5 antibody, but could be stained with anti‐α‐gustducin antibody. On the other hand, almost all anti‐PGP 9.5‐ or anti‐α‐gustducin‐immunoreactive cells were positive for GFRα1. Thus, GDNF‐immunoreactive cells did not include type‐III cells, but type‐II cells, which are α‐gustducin‐immunoreactive; on the other hand, GFRα1‐immunoreactive cells included type‐II and ‐III cells, and perhaps type‐I cells. We conclude that GDNF in the type‐II cells may exert trophic actions on type‐I, ‐II, and ‐III taste bud cells by binding to their GFRα1 receptors. J. Comp. Neurol. 479:94–102, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.