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Role of neurotrophin in the taste system following gustatory nerve injury

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Abstract

Taste system is a perfect system to study degeneration and regeneration after nerve injury because the taste system is highly plastic and the regeneraton is robust. Besides, degeneration and regeneration can be easily measured since taste buds arise in discrete locations, and nerves that innervate them can be accurately quantified. Neurotrophins are a family of proteins that regulate neural surival, function, and plasticity after nerve injury. Recent studies have shown that neurotrophins play an important role in the developmental and mature taste system, indicating neurtrophin might also regulate taste system following gustatory nerve injury. This review will summarize how taste system degenerates and regenerates after gustatory nerve cut and conclude potential roles of neurotrophin in regulating the process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA

    Lingbin Meng

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China

    Xin Jiang

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA

    Rui Ji

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Meng, L., Jiang, X. & Ji, R. Role of neurotrophin in the taste system following gustatory nerve injury. Metab Brain Dis 30, 605–613 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-014-9626-0

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