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Predominant role of the chorda tympani nerve in the maintenance of the taste pores: the influence of gustatory denervation in ear surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Yoshimichi Ohishi
Affiliation:
Department of Oral Physiology, Hiroshima University School of Dentristry, Hiroshima, Japan.
Sohtaro Komiyama
Affiliation:
Department of Orolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Yoshiki Shiba D.D.S
Affiliation:
Department of Oral Physiology, Hiroshima University School of Dentristry, Hiroshima, Japan.

Abstract

The effect on the taste pores of denervation of the chorda tympani nerve in the middle-ear cavity was studied comparing confocal laser microscopy with lingual nerve resection. Taste pore cells were stained for actin with rhodamine-phalloidin and positive fluorescence was observed as a ring shape at the transverse cross sections. Within three days after chorda tympani nerve resection the ring reaction disappeared, although the pore morphology remained intact as seen by scanning electron microscopy. On the other hand, lingual nerve resection did not induce such rapid disappearance of the ring reaction. These results suggest that the chorda tympani nerve plays a predominant role in the maintenance of actin filaments in taste pore cells.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2000

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