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PubMed1995

C3.SW-Soaa heterozygous congenic taster mice.

Sensitivity to the bitter acetylated sugar sucrose octaacetate (SOA) is mediated by a single-locus system with three alleles in mice. Inbred strains are classified according to SOA phenotype as tasters, nontasters, or demitasters (intermediate sensitivity). A congenic quartet created from taster and nontaster strains has been used to investigate the effect of the Soa locus on non-SOA aspects of taste sensitivity. In this study, we created a third congenic set, C3.SW-Soaa, from taster (SWR/J) and demitaster (C3HeB/FeJ) strains. After 11 lineal backcross generations these C3.SW mice carry the tasting allele on a 99% C3 demitaster background. After testing a total of 938 mice, taster-demitaster proportions across 12 generations were consistent with expectations from a monogenic model. The resultant three-strain congenic series will allow further examination of the mechanisms of taste.

Alleles↗
PubMed2005

Reliability of the AccuSens Taste Kit(c) in patients with eating disorders.

Zinc deficiency is a putative risk factor for anorexia nervosa (AN). Detecting zinc deficiency may therefore be important in treatment. However, serum zinc is not a good measure of total body zinc. An alternative test for zinc deficiency is taste testing because zinc deficiency is known to impair taste (dysgeusia). To determine whether taste testing could be used in this way, we measured the reliability of the only commercially available taste test in 16 patients with eating disorders. The results were analyzed graphically and with the kappa statistic (K). The taste test was found to be unreliable and should not be used to determine zinc status.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Odor-induced changes in taste perception.

We investigated odor-induced changes in taste perception (OICTP), by examining the influence of strawberry and soy sauce odors on perceived sweetness (Experiment 1) and saltiness (Experiment 2). We explored whether taste-smell interactions occur at the central level, by delivering odorants (strawberry, soy sauce, odorless water) and tastants (sucrose, sodium chloride) separately, and whether effects of imagined odors are comparable to those of physically presented odors. We found specific taste-smell interactions: sweetness enhancement induced by strawberry odor and saltiness enhancement induced by soy sauce odor. These interactions were elicited with separate delivery of olfactory and gustatory stimuli. Secondly, we found a similar but rather limited effect with the imagined odors: imagined strawberry enhanced perceived sweetness of water solutions, and imagined soy sauce enhanced perceived saltiness of weak sodium chloride solutions. We concluded that OICTP is a centrally mediated phenomenon, and that imagined odors can to some extent induce changes in perceived taste intensity comparable to those elicited by perceived odors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

High-resolution genetic mapping of the sucrose octaacetate taste aversion (Soa) locus on mouse Chromosome 6.

An acetylated sugar, sucrose octaacetate (SOA), tastes bitter to humans and has an aversive taste to at least some mice and other animals. In mice, taste aversion to SOA depends on allelic variation of a single locus, Soa. Three Soa alleles determine 'taster' (Soa(a)), 'nontaster' (Soa(b)), and 'demitaster' (Soa(c)) phenotypes of taste sensitivity to SOA. Although Soa has been mapped to distal Chromosome (Chr) 6, the limits of the Soa region have not been defined. In this study, mice from congenic strains SW.B6-Soa(b), B6.SW-Soa(a), and C3.SW-Soa(a/c) and from an outbred CFW strain were genotyped with polymorphic markers on Chr 6. In the congenic strains, the limits of introgressed donor fragments were determined. In the outbred mice, linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analyses were conducted. Positions of the markers were further resolved by using radiation hybrid mapping. The results show that the Soa locus is contained in an approximately 1-cM (3.3-4.9 Mb) region including the Prp locus.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor affects non-associative learning in honey bee foragers, Apis mellifera L.

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor influences flight behavior, orientation and returning success of forager honeybees (Apis mellifera) infested as adults. As impaired orientation toward the nest entrance might be due to deficiency in recognition and responsiveness to stimuli in the environment, we examined effects of V. destructor on sensory responsiveness, non-associative and associative learning of honey bee foragers by using proboscis extension reaction paradigm (PER). Although infested and uninfested workers were initially equally responsive to different concentrations of sugar water, we found differences in non-associative learning. In habituation, PER to repeated sugar stimulation of the antennae occurred faster in infested foragers compared to uninfested foragers. In sensitization, infested foragers showed a lower response to an odor stimulus following sugar stimulation than non-infested foragers. Differences in non-associative paradigms were more pronounced in bees with lower responsiveness to sucrose. In conditioning learning experiments, a significant reduction in proboscis extension response was found 1 min but not 12 min after a single conditioning trial indicating that V. destructor predominantly affects the non-associative components of learning and its underlying neural and molecular processes.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Electrophysiological responses of taste cells to nutrient mixtures in the polyphagous caterpillar of Grammia geneura.

In a normally feeding insect, the taste receptors are exposed to complex mixtures of chemicals, not single compounds. We investigate the responses of neurons in the galeal sensilla of the caterpillar of Grammia geneura to mixtures of nutrient compounds at concentrations occurring in plants. Compounds that stimulated the same neuron were generally additive in their effects in binary mixtures. Amino acids that did not stimulate usually had no effect in mixtures with a stimulating compound, but glutamic acid reduced the response to serine in the medial sensillum. Nutrient compounds that stimulated different cells in a sensillum acted independently of each other. Complex mixtures of amino acids resembling samples of free amino acids from three host plants were less stimulating than expected from their molar concentrations. In host plant selection, the response from the medial sensillum is probably dominated by sucrose; unless sucrose levels are low, amino acids will contribute little to sensory input because they stimulate the same cell as sucrose. In the lateral sensillum, amino acids act independently of sugars. The limited contact chemosensory array of caterpillars seems inadequate to allow them to make fine distinctions between plants on the basis of their free amino acids.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2006

[About the functional aspect of septorhinoplasty].

INTRODUCTION: Rhinosurgeons emphasize the functional aspect of septorhinoplasty (SRP). So far only a few publications with exact data exist. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients (33 male symbol; 19 female symbol, average age: 37 years) were examined before and approx. 1 year after SRP. Rhinomanometry, olfactometry, and photographic documentation were carried out. Using a questionnaire they were asked about the functional outcome and about their original personal aims concerning the SRP. RESULTS: All patients suffered from a deviated septum. Regarding the external aspect 38 patients had a crooked nose with or without a hump, 7 patients had a hump without external deviated nose, and 7 patients had a saddle nose or other deformities. If total nasal airflow is considered rhinomanometry showed no significant improvement postoperatively (p=0.115). If only the worse nasal side is considered rhinometry showed a highly significant improvement (p=0.002). In the questionnaire 34 patients (65%) indicated an improvement, 14 patients (27%) no change, and 4 patients a deterioration of the nasal airflow. The final aesthetic outcome was assessed by 39 patients (75%) as an improvement, by 12 patients (23%) as unchanged, and by 1 patient (2%) as worse. There were no significant changes in the olfactory function. Asked about their personal aims 29 patients (56%) wished first of all an improvement of nasal airflow, 5 patients (10%) a good aesthetic result, and 18 patients (34%) both aspects. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that use of the term "functional" SRP is justified. In the majority of cases a simultaneously existing functional-plastic problem is solved. Our results support the importance of rhinomanometry as an objective parameter in the perioperative diagnostic battery of nasal obstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Association between 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) bitterness and colonic neoplasms.

Inadequate vegetable intake appears to increase colon cancer risk. Since genetic variation in taste influences vegetable preference, we tested associations between bitterness of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), a measure of taste genetics, and number of colonic polyps, a measure of colon cancer risk, in 251 men who underwent screening lower endoscopy. Patients used the general Labeled Magnitude Scale to rate bitterness of 1.6 mg PROP delivered via filter paper. A subset of 86 patients reported weekly vegetable intakes, excluding salad or potatoes. PROP bitterness correlated significantly with polyp number, an effect separate from age-associated increases in polyp number. The PROP-polyp relationship was strongest in men over 66 years, and older men with polyps were most likely to be overweight or obese. In the subset reporting vegetable intake, men who tasted PROP as more bitter consumed fewer vegetables. These preliminary findings suggest that taste genetics may influence colon cancer risk, possibly through intake of vegetables.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Taste perception and breast cancer: evidence of a role for diet.

Suprathreshold taste perception and nutrient intake were assessed for two groups of women aged 44 to 56 years: 24 mastectomized breast cancer outpatients and 24 matched controls. Salty and sweet taste intensity and pleasantness were evaluated in aqueous solutions and simple foods by unstructured line scaling. Dietary intakes were assessed by combined dietary recall (1 day) and food record (3 days). Suprathreshold taste intensity and pleasantness data did not differ between the breast cancer and control groups. Breast cancer subjects consumed less energy and were at greater overall nutritional risk than the controls. Compared with control subjects, breast cancer subjects were at greater risk of calcium and iron deficiency. Regression analysis was used to investigate relationships between diet and taste for a breast cancer subgroup (n = 7) with unusually low energy intake (< or = 1,300 kcal/day) and a high overall nutritional risk (25.6%). For the subgroup, significant relationships between taste and diet were found, although taste data did not differ from that of the controls. Percent risks of nutrient deficiency for vitamin B-12, thiamin, folacin, iron, and riboflavin were important predictors of taste-intensity slopes for the cancer subgroup. Findings suggest that for some of the breast cancer subjects, diet may be associated with unsatisfactory nutritional status and may be affected by suprathreshold taste perception.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effects of combined hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride versus single drug on changes in salt taste and intake.

Hydrochlorothiazide stimulates salt intake without altering salivary or gustatory function. Amiloride reportedly reduces salivary sodium levels and salt taste. It was hypothesized that these unintended drug actions would be attenuated by concurrent use of these 2 diuretics. Normotensive adults (n = 23) were administered placebo for 2 weeks, active combination drug Moduretic for 4 weeks, and placebo again for 2 weeks in a double-blind protocol. Salivary flow, gustatory function and sodium intake were monitored at the end of each period, together with selected physiologic measures (i.e., plasma aldosterone, plasma renin activity, body composition, blood pressure and heart rate). No significant changes were observed for salivary flow, salt taste or sodium intake. These findings indicate that amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide used in combination can reduce drug effects that may compromise the efficacy of either drug when used alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Ontogeny of chorda tympani nerve responses to gustatory stimuli in the rat.

Electrical activity (whole-nerve responses) of the chorda tympani nerve (CT) in rats at 2-110 days of age was recorded in response to chemical (0.5 M NaCl, 0.5 M LiCl, 0.5 M NH4Cl, 0.1 M citric acid) stimuli applied to the dorsal surface of the tongue. The CT of rats as young as two days of age was differentially responsive to the various chemical stimuli, and the responsiveness of the CT to 0.5 M NaCl and 0.5 M LiCl relative to 0.5 M NH4Cl increased between 20 and 34 days of age and again between 35 and 90 days of age. The responsiveness of the CT to 0.1 M citric acid relative to 0.5 M NH4Cl increased from 6--19 days of age, then decreased thereafter to adulthood. A concentration series of NH4Cl solutions (0.1 M, 0.25 M, 0.5 M and 1.0 M) revealed that the CT of rats 6--110 days of age displayed increased response magnitudes as the concentration of NH4Cl increased. The CT was responsive to mechanical and thermal stimulation of the tongue, and this responsiveness was essentially unchanged throughout development. These results show that the CT of rats as young as two days of age is differentially responsive to chemical stimuli applied to the tongue, and that CT responsiveness to chemical stimuli changes during development.

Aging↗
PubMed1981

Stimulation of the gerbil's gustatory receptors by artificial sweeteners.

Some electrophysiological and behavioral taste experiments have been undertaken to determine how the Mongolian gerbil responds to artificial sweeteners. In the electrophysiological experiment only fourteen of twenty-one sweeteners produced neural responses. The most potent compound was L-4'-cyano-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetamido)succinanilic acid. Halogenated derivatives were more potent stimuli than non-halogenated ones. D-Tryptophan was stimulatory while L-tryptophan was not. The electrophysiological responses to sucrose were not inhibited by the presence of non-stimulating sweeteners nor were the responses to D-tryptophan inhibited by L-tryptophan. All the compounds that were stimulatory electrophysiologically were used in the behavior experiment. Using conditioned taste aversion, the gerbils responded to 5 of the compounds as sweet, one as sweet-salty, two as sweet-bitter, one as sour and one as bitter. In addition, 3 compounds were drunk equally by all groups suggesting that they were tasteless or possessed some unknown taste quality. A correlation was found between the efficacy (Kd) of the sweet-tasting compounds (pure sweet or mixed sweet) and the sweetness ranking by humans.

Animals↗