The cellular mechanism for water detection in the mammalian taste system 哺乳动物味觉系统中水分检测的细胞机制.pdfVIP

a r t I C l e S The cellular mechanism for water detection in the mammalian taste system 1 2 1 Dhruv Zocchi , Gunther Wennemuth Yuki Oka Initiation of drinking behavior relies on both internal state and peripheral water detection. While central neural circuits regulating . d thirst have been well studied, it is still unclear how mammals recognize external water. Here we show that acid-sensing taste e v receptor cells (TRCs) that were previously suggested as the sour taste sensors also mediate taste responses to water. Genetic r e silencing of these TRCs abolished water-evoked responses in taste nerves. Optogenetic self-stimulation of acid-sensing TRCs in s e r thirsty animals induced robust drinking responses toward light even without water. This behavior was only observed when animals s t were water-deprived but not under food- or salt-depleted conditions, indicating that the hedonic value of water-evoked responses h g is highly internal-state dependent. Conversely, thirsty animals lacking functional acid-sensing TRCs showed compromised i r l discrimination between water and nonaqueous fluids. Taken together, this study revealed a function of mammalian acid-sensing l A . TRCs that provide a cue for external water. e r u t Appetite represents an important basis of homeostatic regulation solitary tract in rodents27. Although the underlying mechanisms is a N r that drives animals to goal-oriented consummatory behaviors. These unknown, these studies suggested that water detection is, in part, e innate behaviors are finely controlled based on internal needs and encoded by the taste system