Timecourse of saline-induced recovery of the gustatory system in
sodium-restricted rats.
Stewart, Robert E., and David L. Hill.
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Graduate Program,
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903-2477
APStracts 2:0204R, 1995.
Placing pregnant rats on a Na+-restricted diet (0.03% NaCl) results in
greatly reduced chorda tympani nerve responses to Na+ stimuli in the
offspring. Normal responses can be permanently restored by providing
offspring one-time access to saline. We tested whether saline-induced
recovery occurs in taste receptor cells present at the time of saline
intake. Chorda tympani responses were recorded 2h, 6h, 24h, and 10
and 20 days following saline ingestion. Chorda tympani Na+ responses
from Na+-restricted rats at 2h, 6h and 24h and 10d after saline
intake were comparable to responses from control Na+-restricted rats.
Twenty days after saline consumption responses to Na+ were
significantly elevated versus control Na+-restricted rats. The
results indicate that extant taste receptor cells are not
substantially influenced by the saline ingestion. Instead, the
delayed recovery suggests that taste receptor stem cells exclusively
are influenced by saline intake.
Received 13 October 1994; accepted in final form 12 July 1995.
APS Manuscript Number R595-4.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Regulatory Integrative
Comp. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 30 July 1995.