Figure 6.
CGRP induces serotonin release from taste buds. CHO/5-HT2C cells (hereafter called 5-HT biosensors) were positioned against isolated taste buds to measure CGRP-elicited transmitter release. A, Micrograph of a biosensor cell abutted against an isolated taste bud in a living preparation. A Nomarski optics image and a fluorescence microscopy image were merged. B, Traces represent robust responses from the biosensor cell positioned against a taste bud when the taste bud was stimulated with 0.1 μm CGRP. CGRP8-37 (0.2 μm) (present throughout the shaded area) reversibly reduced the biosensor responses evoked by stimulating taste buds repeatedly with CGRP. These results were consistent with that CGRP evoked serotonin release from taste buds. C, Summary of CGRP-evoked 5-HT release before, during, and after the presence of CGRP8-37. Points indicate normalized peak biosensor responses. Blue symbols represent mean ± 95% CI. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 (paired Student's t test). N = 6.