Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ultrastructural modifications of denervated taste buds

  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The subject of this study is the ultrastructural alterations of the taste-bud cells of the foliate papilla of the rabbit after sectioning of the homolateral glossopharyngeal nerve. In the course of the experiment two different, and successive, degenerative patterns were observed: the first involves type I sensory cells and the development therein of numerous dense inclusion bodies with a marked polymorphism similar to the classic lysosomes in various stages of development. Some assume the character of autophagic vacuoles or cytosegregosomes with cytoplasmic organelles more or less altered. They prefer slightly differentiated cells and, in particular, a type of cell characterized by a clear cytoplasmic matrix and a scarsity of the organelles.

The other degenerative pattern, which appertains to the type II cells, overwhelms the entire cytoplasmic organization and rapidly causes the destruction of the cell.

These observations are discussed in relationship to:

  1. 1.

    the evaluation of the autophagic function of the lysosomes and in particular the cytosegregosomes;

  2. 2.

    the theory of the trophic function of nerves, in general, and sensory nerves, in particular.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abraham, R., Golberg, L., Grasso, P.: Hepatic response to lysosomal effect of hypoxia, neutral red and chloroquine. Nature (Lond.) 215, 194–196 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Arstila, A., Trump, B.: Studies on cellular autophagocytosis. The formation of autophagic vacuoles in the liver after glucagon administration. Amer. J. Path. 53, 687–733 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashford, T. P., Porter, K. R.: Cytoplasmic components in hepatic cell lysosomes. J. Cell Biol. 12, 198–202 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Beidler, L. M.: Dynamics of taste cells. In: Olfaction and taste, ed. Y. Zotterman, p. 133–148. New York: Pergamon Press 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Smallman, R. L.: Renewal of cells within taste buds. J. Cell Biol. 27, 263–272 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brockelbank, M. C.: Degeneration and regeneration of the lateral line organs in Ameiurus nebulosus. J. exp. Zool. 42, 293–305 (1925).

    Google Scholar 

  • Deter, R. L., Baudhuin, P., Duve, C. de: Participation of lysosomes in cellular autophagy induced in rat liver by glucagon. J. Cell Biol. 35, C11-C16 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Duve, C. de: Lysosomes, a new group of cytoplasmic particles. In: Subcellular particles, ed. T. Hayashi, p. 128–159. New York: Ronald Press 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The lysosome. Sci. Amer. 208, 64–72 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Wattiaux, R.: Functions of lysosomes. Ann. Rev. Physiol. 28, 435–492 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Engström, H., Rytzner, C.: The fine structure of taste buds and taste fibers. Ann. oto-rhino.-laryng. 65, 361–375 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ericsson, J. L. E.: Absorption and decomposition of homologous hemoglobin in renal proximal tubular cells. An experimental light and electron microscopic study. Acta path. microbiol. scand., Suppl. 168, 1–121 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Trump, B. F.: Electron microscopic studies of the epithelium of the proximal tubule of the rat kidney. I. The intracellular localization of acid phosphatase. Lab. Invest. 13, 1427–1456 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Weibel, J.: Electron microscopic studies of the proximal tubule of the rat kidney. II. Cytosegregosomes and cytosomes. Their relationship to each other and to the lysosomes concept. Lab. Invest. 14, 1341–1365 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Farbman, A. J.: Fine structure of the taste bud. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 12, 328–350 (1965a).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Electron microscope study of the developing taste bud in rat fungiform papilla. Develop. Biol. 11, 110–135 (1965b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar, M. G., Palade, G. E.: Junctional complexes in various epithelia. J. Cell Biol. 17, 375–412 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomori, G.: Microscopic histochemistry. Principles and practice, p. 189. Chicago: Chicago university Press 1952.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, E. G., Watkins, K. C.: Electron microscopy of taste buds of the rat. Z. Zellforsch. 66, 583–595 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Guth, L.: The effects of glossopharyngeal nerve transection on the circumvallate papilla of the rat. Anat. Rec. 128, 715–731 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Taste buds on the cat's circumvallate papilla after reinnervation by glossopharyngeal, vagus and hypoglossal nerves. Anat. Rec. 130, 25–38 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Histological changes following partial denervation of circumvallate papilla of the rat. Exp. Neurol. 8, 336–349 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Trophic influences of nerve on muscle. Physiol. Rev. 48, 645–687 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Heidenhain, M.: Über die Sinnesfelder und die Geschmacksknospen der Papilla foliata des Kaninchens. Arch. mikr. Anat. 85, 365–479 (1914).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermann, F.: Beitrag zur Entwicklungsgeschichte des Geschmacksorgans beim Kaninchen. Arch. mikr. Anat. 24, 216–229 (1885).

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtzman, E., Novikoff, A. B., Villaverde, H.: Lysosomes and Gerl in normal and chromatolytic neurons of the rat ganglion nodosum. J. Cell. Biol. 33, 419–435 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolmer, W.: Geschmacksorgan. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen, ed. W. v. Möllendorff, Bd. 3, S. 154–191. Berlin: J. Springer 1927.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzo, A. J. de: Electron microscopic observations on the taste buds of the rabbit. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 4, 143–150 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Studies on the ultrastructure and histophysiology of cell membranes, nerve fibres and synaptic junctions in chemoreceptors. In: Olfaction and taste, ed. Y. Zotterman, p. 5–18. New York: Pergamon Press 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luft, J. H.: Improvements in epoxy embedding methods. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 9, 409–414 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • May, R. M.: The relation of nerves to degenerating and regenerating taste buds. J. exp. Zool. 42, 371–410 (1925).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazzocchi, G., Gotte, P.: Osservazioni ultrastrutturali in rapporto a dati istochimici sul calice gustativo di Sus suis. In: Atti della Società Medico-Chirurgica di Padova della Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università di Padova, ed. Tipografia del Seminario (Padova), 41, 5–12 (1966).

  • Miani, N., Olivieri Sangiacomo, C.: Segnali transneurali nel ganglio otico di coniglio adulto. In: Atti della Società Medico-Chirurgica di Padova e della Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università di Padova 43, 3–16 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, F.: Acid phosphatase localization in renal protein absorption droplets. In: Electron microscopy. 5th Intern. Congr. on Electron Microscopy, Philadelphia, ed. Breese, S. S., Jr., vol. 2, p. P-8. New York: Academic Press 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Millonig, G.: Advantages of a phosphate buffer for OsO4 solutions in fixation (abstract). J. appl. Phys. 32, 1637 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, R. G., Murray, A.: The fine structure of the taste buds of rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys. Anat. Rec. 138, 211–233 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Fine structure of taste buds of rabbit foliate papillae. J. Ultrastr. Res. 19, 327–353 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Napolitano, L.: Cytolysosomes in metabolically active cells. J. Cell Biol. 18, 478–481 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nemetschek-Gansler, H., Ferner, H.: Über die Ultrastruktur der Geschmacksknospen. Z. Zellforsch. 63, 155–178 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Novikoff, A. B.: The proximal tubule cell in experimental hydronephrosis. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 6, 136–138 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Essner, E.: Cytolysomes and mitochondrial degeneration. J. Cell Biol. 15, 140–146 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Olmsted, J. M. D.: The results of cutting the seventh cranial nerve in Ameiurus nebulosus. J. exp. Zool. 31, 369–401 (1920).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Effect of cutting the lingual nerve of the dog. J. comp. Neurol. 33, 149–154 (1921).

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, G. H.: On the trophic impulse so-called, its rate and nature. Amer. Naturalist 66, 147–158 (1932).

    Google Scholar 

  • Poritski, R. L., Singer, M.: The fate of taste buds in tongue transplants to the orbit in the urodele Triturus. J. exp. Zool. 153, 211–218 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranvier, L. A.: Traité Technique d'Histologie, 2nd edit., p. 724. Paris: Librairie Savy 1889.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, N.: The role of the nerve in maintenance of frog taste buds. Exp. Neurol. 17, 364–380 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, W.: Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen über die intrazelluläre Verarbeitung von Vitalfarbstoffen. Z. Zellforsch. 58, 573–637 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, M.: The trophic quality of the neuron: some theoretical considerations. In: Progress in brain res., vol. 13, Mechanisms of neural regeneration (eds.) M. Singer and J. P. Schadé, p. 228–232. Amsterdam-London-New York: Elsevier Publishing Company 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoeckenius, W.: An electron microscope study of myelin figures. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 5, 491–500 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Torrey, T. W.: The relation of taste buds to their nerve fibers. J. comp. Neurol. 59, 203–220 (1934).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The influence of nerve fibers upon taste buds during embryonic development. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 26, 627–634 (1940).

    Google Scholar 

  • Trujillo-Cenoz, O.: Electron microscope study of the rabbit gustatory bud. Z. Zellforsch. 46, 272–280 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  • Vintschgau, M. von: Beobachtungen über die Veränderungen der Schmeckbecher nach Durchschneidung des N. glossopharyngeus. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol. 23, 1–13 (1880).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Honigschmied, J.: Nervus glossopharyngeus und Schmeckbecher. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol. 14, 443–448 (1877).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, C. E.: Dedifferentiation of taste bud cells following transection of their nerve supply. Anat. Rec. 115, 442 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiteside, B.: Nerve overlap in the gustatory apparatus of the rat. J. comp. Neurol. 44, 363–377 (1927).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zalewski, A. A.: Changes in phosphatase enzymes following denervation of the vallate papilla of the rat. Exp. Neurol. 22, 40–51 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Role of nerve and epithelium in the regulation of alkaline phosphatase activity in gustatory papillae. Exp. Neurol. 23, 18–28 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelena, J.: Development, degeneration and regeneration of receptor organs. In: Progress in brain research, vol. 13, Mechanisms of neural maturation (ed. M. Singer and J. P. Schadé), p. 175–213. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1964.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro per la Chimica dei Recettori del C.N.R., Istituto di Anatomia Umana Normale dell'Università Cattolica, Roma

    Corrado Olivieri-Sangiacomo

Authors
  1. Corrado Olivieri-Sangiacomo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The author wishes to thank Professor N. Miani for his valuable criticism. The technical assistance of Mr. M. Di Iorio and the photographic help of Mr. V. Panetta are gratefully acknowledged.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Olivieri-Sangiacomo, C. Ultrastructural modifications of denervated taste buds. Z. Zellforsch. 108, 397–414 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336527

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336527

Key-Words

Search

Navigation