Nature 228, 868 - 869 (28 November 1970); doi:10.1038/228868b0

Hetero-electrogenesis of the Gustatory Cell Membrane in Rat

MASAHIRO OZEKI

Department of Physiology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Kumamoto.

THE receptor potential leading to the gustatory neural signal is believed to arise from stimulation by different chemicals of the microvillus membrane of the gustatory cell^1,2. It is not yet known, however, whether receptor potentials of a cell activated by different kinds of gustatory stimulant are elicited by the same receptive process. To examine this problem, I recorded receptor potentials intracellularly from gustatory cells of fungiform papillae in rats by similar methods to those used by Kimura and Beidler². While a cell was stimulated by salt or bitter substances, changes in the membrane conductance of the cell were measured with test pulses of 100 ms duration. The effects of changes in membrane potential on the receptor potentials were also studied.

References

1.	Beidler, L. M., J. Gen. Physiol., 38, 133 (1954).
2.	Kimura, K., and Beidler, L. M., J. Cell. Comp. Physiol., 58, 131 (1961).
3.	Hiji, Y., Kumamoto Med. J., 22, 109 (1969).
4.	Diamond, J., Gray, J. A. B., and Inman, D. R., J. Physiol., 142, 382 (1958).