University of Louisville

Analyzing Whether Different Types Of Taste Nerve Fibers Have Different Innervation Patterns Through Proximity and Colocalization

Grade Level at Time of Presentation

Junior

Major

Psychology

Institution 24-25

University of Louisville

KY House District #

Kentucky House District 41

KY Senate District #

Kentucky 37th Senate District

Department

Dept. of Arts & Sciences

Abstract

The taste system not only allows us to perceive and distinguish various flavors but also plays a vital role in detecting nutrients and avoiding toxins. However, the precise organization of the neurons that convey taste information to the brain remains largely unknown, making it a critical area of research This study aims to determine if different types of taste neurons (as determined by genetic expression) exhibit distinct innervation patterns. This was accomplished by analyzing their proximity and colocalization with different types of taste bud cells. Taste bud cell types include Type II cells, which detect sweet, bitter, and umami flavors, and Type III cells, which respond to sour tastes and carbonated solutions. Specifically, we will compare the proximity of TrkB+ and Penk+ nerve fibers to Type II (PLCB2+) and Type III (Car4+) cells using two methods in Imaris: the proximity approach and the colocalization approach. The proximity approach measures how close nerve fibers and cells are to each other, while the colocalization approach examines the overlap of fluorescent signals indicating their co-occupancy in the same space. Our goal is to identify where and how frequently these fibers and cells come close together, ultimately revealing if certain nerve fibers preferentially innervate specific cell types.

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Analyzing Whether Different Types Of Taste Nerve Fibers Have Different Innervation Patterns Through Proximity and Colocalization

The taste system not only allows us to perceive and distinguish various flavors but also plays a vital role in detecting nutrients and avoiding toxins. However, the precise organization of the neurons that convey taste information to the brain remains largely unknown, making it a critical area of research This study aims to determine if different types of taste neurons (as determined by genetic expression) exhibit distinct innervation patterns. This was accomplished by analyzing their proximity and colocalization with different types of taste bud cells. Taste bud cell types include Type II cells, which detect sweet, bitter, and umami flavors, and Type III cells, which respond to sour tastes and carbonated solutions. Specifically, we will compare the proximity of TrkB+ and Penk+ nerve fibers to Type II (PLCB2+) and Type III (Car4+) cells using two methods in Imaris: the proximity approach and the colocalization approach. The proximity approach measures how close nerve fibers and cells are to each other, while the colocalization approach examines the overlap of fluorescent signals indicating their co-occupancy in the same space. Our goal is to identify where and how frequently these fibers and cells come close together, ultimately revealing if certain nerve fibers preferentially innervate specific cell types.