Opponent effects of quinine and sucrose on single fiber taste responses of the chorda tympani nerve

Responses of single chorda tympani fibers to mixtures of taste stimuli were studied in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). Sucrose-best neurons showed significant suppression to quinine-sucrose mixtures compared to sucrose alone. Quinine may exert its effect as an opponent stimulus in the receptor cells at the second messenger level. This suppression may make bitter quinine more readily detected when embedded in mixtures with sweeteners. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.