Postnatal Early Development Of Circumvallate Taste Buds In The Mouse And Effect Of Sweet (Acesulfame-k) Stimulation

Taste buds, which comprise taste cells and nerve fibers within specialized epithelial structures, are peripheral gustatory receptors. Taste buds in the tongue are localized in taste papilla. The lactation period, from birth to ablactation, is critical developmental period of taste buds in mammals. The gustatory system may mature during the weaning period. Nerve fibers and gustatory structures (taste buds and taste papilla) are reciprocally dependent in the postnatal development of mammals. On one hand, the gustatory structures require innervation for sustained morphogenesis, growth, and maintenance. On the other hand, taste organs produce neurotrophins that sustain ganglion cells, which in turn innervate and maintain developing gustatory papillae and taste buds.The gustatory system of mammals is susceptible to anatomical modification by diet or taste stimulation during critical or sensitive...