# Regulation of taste neuron morphology and function

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE · 2024 · $414,370

## Abstract

Project Summary:
Taste-transducing cells detect chemicals in our food and communicate this information to peripheral taste
ganglion neurons (taste neurons), which carry this information to the brain. The axons of taste neurons vary in
branching characteristics, some branching little and others branching a great deal. However, it is unclear how
these differing morphologies underly plasticity and/or function. Our goal here is to clarify the relationship between
taste neuron morphology, plasticity, genetic type, and function in order to gain insight into the peripheral
organization of the taste system. Taste neuron morphology may underlie differences in connectivity, but is also
likely regulated by plasticity. Even in adults, taste receptor cells undergo continuous renewal and must constantly
attract and connect to nerve fibers, and some variation in neuron morphology likely occurs as part of this process.
Additionally, differences between neurons in their branching likely have functional importance. For example,
simply branched neurons can only connect with a few taste-transducing cells, while heavily branched neurons
likely connect to many more taste-transducing cells. Currently, the significance of these differences in
convergence are unclear. In this project, we propose to investigate factors that regulate differences in taste
neuron morphology and branching characteristics between neurons and relate these factors to neuron function.
Specifically, in Aim 1, we will determine which aspects of the axon morphologies of taste neurons are stable and
which change over time. In Aim 2, we will determine which aspects of neuron morphologies are determined by
an intrinsic factor (i.e., cell type) and how this factor correlates with function. Finally, in Aim 3, we will determine
which aspects of neuron morphologies are determined by extrinsic (i.e., neurotrophins) developmental factors
and how these features relate to neuron function. We hypothesize that branching inside the taste bud is regulated
by plasticity, while branching outside the taste bud is regulated by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic
features, which influence taste neuron sensitivity and breadth of tuning.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10808100
- **Project number:** 5R01DC007176-19
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
- **Principal Investigator:** Robin Frances Krimm
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $414,370
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2005-03-01 → 2027-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10808100

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10808100, Regulation of taste neuron morphology and function (5R01DC007176-19). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10808100. Licensed CC0.

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