Neural mechanisms underlying salty taste in the tongue and brain

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H04111
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Kengo Nomura 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (10734519)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 食塩 / 味覚 / 神経

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The Aim of the study was to elucidate the peripheral cellular mechanisms underlying attractive salty taste, which leads to excessive salt intake, and to clarify the neuronal circuit that processes this information and regulate behavior. Specifically, the study pursued four objectives: (I) identifying peripheral cells responsible for the perception of pleasant salty taste and understanding their signaling mechanisms, (II) developing optogenetic techniques to artificially induce salty taste, (III) identifying neurons responsive to sodium taste through photolabeling technology, and (IV) identifying taste-responsive neurons involved in regulating salt intake.

Free Research Field

生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、塩分過剰摂取の原因となる”好ましい”塩味が生じる仕組みの一端を解明することで、科学的根拠に基づく減塩方策の立案に通ずる。