Association of extracellular acetylcholinesterase with gustatory nerve terminal fibers in the nucleus of the solitary tract.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) staining is associated with terminal fields of the glossopharyngeal and chorda tympani nerves in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST). To address AChE function at these sites, the location of the staining was examined at the fine structural level in combination with the labeling of chorda tympani nerve fibers with biotinylated dextran in golden Syrian hamsters. AChE staining was located in the endoplasmic reticulum of geniculate ganglion neuronal somata, and extracellularly, surrounding labeled chorda tympani terminal fibers and boutons in the NST. Neuronal profiles adjacent to these labeled fibers were stained less intensely, whereas most non-adjacent profiles were unstained. The location of staining is consistent with the secretion of AChE into the extracellular space by primary afferent chorda tympani fibers. AChE staining was reduced in the dextran-labeled chorda tympani fibers and terminals as well as adjacent non-labeled profiles 2 weeks following nerve transection and dextran application. The distribution of staining outside synapses and the loss of staining following denervation is suggestive of a non-cholinergic role for AChE in the intact gustatory system.

Effect of modulators of the adenylate cyclase system on sweet electrophysiological taste responses in gerbil.

The adenylate cyclase system has been implicated in sweet taste transduction. The purpose of this study was to determine whether application of modulators of the adenylate cyclase system to the tongue alters sweet taste responses. Integrated chorda tympani (CT) recordings were made in gerbils to sweet tastants before and after a 4-min application of four types of modulators of the adenylate cyclase system. The four types of modulators tested were: a) NaF, a compound that promotes dissociation of GTP-binding protein; b) forskolin, a powerful stimulant of adenylate cyclase; c) 8-bromoadenosine 3' :5'-cyclic monophosphate sodium salt (8BrcAMP) and N6,2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3' :5'-cyclic monophosphate sodium salt (DBcAMP), two membrane permeable forms of cAMP; and d) 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H-7) and N-(2-[methylamino]ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide dihydrochloride) (H-8), which are protein kinase inhibitors. The sweet compounds tested were: sucrose (30 mM and 100 mM), glucose (300 mM), fructose (300 mM), maltitol (150 mM and 300 mM), mannitol (300 mM and 500 mM), sodium saccharin (10 mM), D-tryptophan (6.5 mM), dulcin (0.88 mM, 1.75 mM, and 3.5 mM), and stevioside (0.55 mM and 1.1 mM). NaCl (30 mM and 100 mM) and KCl (300 mM and 500 mM) were used as control stimuli. The main findings were as follows. Application of NaF (20 mM) for 4 min as a rinse significantly enhanced all of the sweet compounds by at least 23%, except for 10 mM sodium saccharin and 6.5 mM D-tryptophan, while all control compounds were suppressed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Organization of the nucleus of the solitary tract in the hamster: acetylcholinesterase, NADH dehydrogenase, and cytochrome oxidase histochemistry.

The distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), NADH dehydrogenase (NADHd), and cytochrome oxidase (CO) was determined in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) in the golden hamster. Histochemical staining was compared to cytoarchitectonic subdivisions of the NST (Whitehead: J. Comp. Neurol. 276:547-572, 1988) and to terminal fields of primary afferents of the nerves that innervate the tongue. These three histochemical methods resulted in differential staining patterns within the NST that were related to certain subdivisions. Transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used to determine the central projections of the chorda tympani (CT), the lingual branch of the trigeminal (L-V), and the lingual-tonsilar branch of the glossopharyngeal nerves (L-IX). Alternate or the same brain sections were processed to reveal transported HRP, and NADHd or AChE levels. Increased staining of the neuropil with NADHd and AChE was coincident with the dense part of the afferent terminal fields of all three nerves in the NST and the laterally adjacent dorsomedial part of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. CO showed this pattern only for the most rostral part of the CT field. The densest AChE staining coincided with gustatory afferent terminal fields. The histochemical staining facilitated the interpretation of the organization of the NST. For example, at caudal levels of the gustatory NST, it is suggested that taste processing is localized predominantly in the medial part of the rostral central, and somatosensory processing in the rostral lateral subdivision. AChE or NADHd staining should facilitate studies of connections, topography, and neuroplastic changes of the gustatory NST.

Persistence and calcium-dependent ATPase staining of denervated fungiform taste buds in the hamster.

Some fungiform taste buds in the hamster have been previously shown to persist for indefinite periods when deprived of their gustatory, chorda tympani (CT), innervation or both their CT and their trigeminal, lingual nerve, innervation (CT-L). The properties and numbers of persisting fungiform taste buds were examined 1 or 3 weeks after permanent CT or combined CT-L nerve cuts. The purpose was to reveal the status of taste buds at a time (3 weeks) when regenerating nerve fibres would normally be expected to reinnervate the epithelium. Denervated taste buds retain many normal characteristics including the pattern of histochemical staining for ectocalcium-dependent ATPase (Ca-ATPase). Taste-bud cells (including basal cells) have an intensely Ca-ATPase stained core surrounded by lightly stained peripheral cells. The Ca-ATPase stain was used to help identify and to define the size of the taste-bud core in denervated taste buds. Following CT-L or CT denervation most taste buds persisted; however the size of the taste-bud core was dramatically reduced. Fungiform taste buds differed in size based on their location in one of three tongue regions. The percentage decrease in size after denervation was also region specific and about the same for CT-L or CT cuts, suggesting that trigeminal fibres have no trophic effect on taste buds. However, trigeminal denervation caused a reduction in the number of persisting taste buds relative to CT denervation alone, which may be due to damage because of the loss of somatosensation.

Elevated NADH-dehydrogenase activity characterizes the rostral gustatory zone of the solitary nucleus in rat.

The regional distribution of NADH-dehydrogenase (NADH-DH; EC 1.6.99.3) activity was examined in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) in the rat, with specific emphasis given to the rostral gustatory zone. Activity of NADH-DH in the rostral gustatory zone was compared to intermediate and caudal divisions of the NST which receive projections from the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. Animals received injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the anterior tongue, or applications of HRP crystals to the cut chorda tympani nerve to visualize chorda tympani terminal fields in the rostral NST. Tissue was subsequently reacted for NADH-dehydrogenase and transported HRP using sequential histochemical procedures. Results show that relative activity of NADH-DH is highest in areas of the NST that receive projections from the chorda tympani nerve. Lateral divisions of the NST, which receive projections from the lingual-trigeminal nerve, show moderate enzymatic activity, but such activity is quantitatively lower than that observed in the chorda tympani terminal field. Intermediate and caudal portions of the NST show the lowest NADH-DH activity of all NST regions examined. These results confirm that histochemistry for NADH-dehydrogenase can serve as an endogenous marker for chorda tympani terminal fields in the rostral NST.