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. 2025 Jan;113(1):126-134.
doi: 10.1007/s10266-024-00948-8. Epub 2024 May 26.

The existence of cells exhibiting characteristics of both Type II and Type III cells in rat taste buds. An immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic study

Shuhei Inoko  1 , Hiroki Katagiri  2   3   4 , Maiko Tsujimura  5   6   7 , Sumio Yoshie  8
Affiliations

The existence of cells exhibiting characteristics of both Type II and Type III cells in rat taste buds. An immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic study

Shuhei Inoko et al. Odontology. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Taste bud cells are classified into four types by their ultrastructural features. Immunohistochemical detection of taste-signaling molecules is used to distinguish cell types of taste bud cells; however, the characteristics of taste cell types such as the immunoreactivity for taste-signaling molecules have long remained unclear. We investigated the detailed characteristics of taste cells in rat vallate taste buds by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry for gustducin, neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2), which are known as markers of Type II cells, Type III cells and both cell types, respectively. Triple immunostaining for these molecules discriminated seven kinds of cell, including the totally immunopositive cell. Electron microscopy revealed Type III cells with a typical synaptic structure and subsurface cisterna as a specialized contact between a nerve and a Type II cell. The present study clarified the existence of cells with features of both Type II and Type III cells as a subtype of taste bud cells in the rat taste bud.

Keywords: Cell type; Electron microscopy; Immunohistochemistry; Rat; Taste bud.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing of interest. Ethical approval: All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted (the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, No. 217).

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