Optogenetic examination of salt taste in mice

<p>This thesis describes a series of experiments designed to evaluate the hypothesis that Type I taste receptor cells play a critical role in the detection and transduction of sodium taste via of epithelial sodium channels (ENaCs). Experiment 1 validated the function of a simple and affordable behavioral apparatus (hardware and software) for testing taste preference and taste aversion in mice. Experiment 2 demonstrated a pharmacological method for rapid induction of salt appetite in mice. Experiment 3 showed that optogenetic stimulation of Type I taste receptor cells (TRCs) in transgenic mice could drive consumption of tap water under conditions of salt hunger. The fourth and final experiment assessed whether conditioned taste aversions to sodium would generalize to optogenetic stimulation of Type I taste receptor cells in transgenic mice, with inconclusive results.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Raymond, Martin

Contributors dc:contributor

• Joseph Breza, Ph.D.
• Thomas Waltz, Ph.D., Ph.D.
• Kenneth Rusiniak, Ph.D.

• Behavior
• Ingestion
• Taste
• Neuroscience and Neurobiology
• Psychiatry and Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/928

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2320