Expression Of Taste Receptor And Downstream Signaling Transduction Cascades In The Mouse Female Reproductive System

Our goal is to detect mouse taste receptor family1members (mT1Rs) and signaling transduction cascades a-gustducin and Gγ13) in the female reproductive system, and discuss the potential role that gustatory perception in regulating the female reproduction. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), ABC immunohistochemistry and Western Blot were employed in the current experiments.Ovary, uterus and oviduct, which was from6week aged mice in dioestrus, were used in the current experiments. We investigated the expression of the histological distribution of taste receptor mT1Rs and signaling transduction cascades (a-gustducin and Gγ13). The current results revealed the presence of a-gustducin、 Gγ13and mT1Rs mRNA in female reproductive system by RT-PCR.Immunohistochemistry and Western Blot analysis further showed that the positive signals were also observed in ovarian granular lutein cells and Oocytes, uterine wall and mucosa of oviduct. In short, the current results showed the wide distribution of taste receptors (mT1Rs) and G protein-coupled receptors (a-gustducin and Gγ13) in the female reproductive system, indicated that female reproductive system can"sense" the tastant. This study provides a support for further work for taste receptors on how to affect the physiological function of the female reproductive system, and open a new window for the study of chemical senses.