GUSTATORY NERVE IMPULSES IN RAT, CAT AND RABBIT

Abstract

Afferent nerve impulses in the chorda tympani nerve of the rat, cat and rabbit were recorded in both the total nerve trunk and single nerve fibers. Effectiveness of the basic taste stimuli HC1, NaCl, KC1, sucrose and quinine differed in the 3 spp. both in terms of threshold values and magnitude of response to suprathreshold concentrations. Thus there is a clear sp. difference in the efficacy of different chemicals in stimulating the taste receptors. Single fiber analysis shows further that within any one sp. the effectiveness of different chemicals may differ from one single element to another. Single fiber preparations thus are characterized by different patterns of sensitivity to the 4 basic taste stimuli. No classification of basic receptor types is apparent.