The effect of imiquimod on taste bud calcium transients and transmitter secretion.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Imiquimod is an immunomodulator approved for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma and has adverse side effects, including taste disturbances. Paracrine transmission, representing cell-cell communication within taste buds, has the potential to shape the final signals that taste buds transmit to the brain. Here, we tested the underlying assumption that imiquimod modifies taste transmitter secretion in taste buds of mice.

Experimental approach

Taste buds were isolated from C57BL/6J mice. The effects of imiquimod on transmitter release in taste buds were measured using calcium imaging with cellular biosensors, and examining the net effect of imiquimod on taste-evoked ATP secretion from mouse taste buds.

Key results

Up to 72% of presynaptic (Type II

SUBMITTER: Huang AY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5056224 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature