Presentation Details
| Don Tucker Finalist: Peripheral Taste Function is Subject to Complex Modulation by Neuropeptide Y Family Peptides Satya Iyer, Ritika Gangakhedkar, Irene Bhuiyan, Jean-Pierre R.Montmayeur, Cedrick D.Dotson. Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA |
Abstract
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) family peptides are known to extensively impact upon feeding behavior. Studies have also indicated that genetic knockout of NPY family peptides and receptors can affect taste responsiveness in mice, though it is unclear whether these impacts are directly mediated by peripheral taste function at the level of the tongue and the taste bud cell (TBC). Here, we found not only a direct impact of NPY family peptides on peripheral taste function but also that these impacts are dependent on the peptide and taste quality in question. Selective oral expression of peptide YY (PYY), via both viral vector and acute presentation with taste stimuli, differentially impacted bitter and fatty acid (FA)-evoked responses (i.e., suppressing bitter responsiveness and enhancing FA responsiveness). The same modulatory trends were observed when assessing stimulus-evoked calcium responses of isolated mouse fungiform TBCs in vitro. To validate and expand upon the translational implications of these findings we conducted in vitro experiments with a human fungiform TBC line and assessed functional responses to bitter and FA stimuli in the presence and absence of both PYY and NPY. While PYY modulated bitter and FA-evoked responses similarly to that observed in mice, NPY divergently impacted bitter-evoked responses while convergently impacting FA-evoked responses. NPY receptor antagonist experiments suggest that the impacts of these peptides, regardless of their similarity, were mediated by different NPY receptors. Ongoing behavioral experiments are exploring the impacts of acute NPY exposure on taste responsiveness in mice. These data strongly suggest that NPY family peptides can dynamically modulate the primary sensory input of the gustatory system to shape taste responsiveness.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.