PLCβ2+ cells (magenta) in (A) fungiform and (B) circumvallate papillae at 0, 4, 8, 10, 12, and 16 days after CYP injection (n = 5 mice/group). Sections were counter-reacted with Sytox green, a nuclear marker. In fungiform taste buds, PLCβ2+ cells are much reduced by 4 days and do not fully recover until 16 days after injection. PLCβ2+ cells are decreased in circumvallate taste buds at 8–12 days after injection, and recover by 16 days. Scale bars = 20μm. (C) Mean±SEM PLCβ2+ cells per taste bud in fungiform (left graph) and circumvallate (right graph) papillae. In fungiform taste buds, the number of PLCβ2+ cells were significantly lower than controls (0 days) at 4–12 days after injection. In circumvallate taste buds, the number of PLCβ2+ cells did not decline significantly compared to controls until 8–12 days after CYP injection. * P<0.05, ** P<0.01, *** P<0.001.