Overconsumption of NaCl has been linked to increased hypertension-related morbidity. Compounds that can enhance NaCl responses in taste cells could help reduce human NaCl consumption without sacrificing perceived saltiness. Spilanthol is an unsaturated alkylamide isolated from the Jambu plant (Acmella oleracea) that can induce tingling, pungency, and numbing in the mouth. Structurally similar fatty acid amides, such as sanshool, elicit numbing and tingling sensations by inhibiting 2-pore-domain potassium leak channels on trigeminal sensory neurons. Even when insufficient to induce action potential firing, leak current inhibition causes depolarization and increased membrane resistance, which combine to make cells more sensitive to subsequent depolarizing stimuli, such as NaCl. Using calcium imaging, we tested whether spilanthol alters sensitivity to NaCl in isolated circumvallate taste bud cells and trigeminal sensory neurons of mice (Mus musculus). Micromolar spilanthol elicited little to no response in taste bud cells or trigeminal neurons. These same perithreshold concentrations of spilanthol significantly enhanced responses to NaCl (140 and 200 mM) in taste bud cells. Trigeminal neurons, however, exhibited response enhancement only at the highest concentrations of NaCl and spilanthol tested. Using a combination of potassium depolarization, immunohistochemistry, and Trpm5-GFP and Tas1r3-GFP mice to characterize taste bud cells by type, we found spilanthol enhancement of NaCl responses most prevalent in NaCl-responsive type III cells, and commonly observed in NaCl-responsive type II cells. Our results indicate that spilanthol enhances NaCl responses in taste bud cells and point to a family of compounds that may have utility as salty taste enhancers.
Pubmed ID: 30364996 RIS Download
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This polyclonal secondary targets IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsSoftware designed for single or multi-wavelength intracellular ion measurements. It provides simultaneous display of raw data, ratio image, graphs of intensities, ratios, ion concentrations, and a non-ratiometric image such as a brightfield or phase-contrast image. Two different ratiometric indicators can be imaged and measured simultaneously to provide greater insight to ion exchange and intracellular function regardless of dye loading concentrations, conditions, or emission intensities.
View all literature mentionsMus musculus with name C57BL/6NCrl from IMSR.
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal secondary targets IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsSoftware designed for single or multi-wavelength intracellular ion measurements. It provides simultaneous display of raw data, ratio image, graphs of intensities, ratios, ion concentrations, and a non-ratiometric image such as a brightfield or phase-contrast image. Two different ratiometric indicators can be imaged and measured simultaneously to provide greater insight to ion exchange and intracellular function regardless of dye loading concentrations, conditions, or emission intensities.
View all literature mentionsMus musculus with name C57BL/6NCrl from IMSR.
View all literature mentionsMus musculus with name C57BL/6NCrl from IMSR.
View all literature mentions