DECLINE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF TASTE RESPONSE AFTER INTERRUPTION OF THE CHORDA TYMPANI PROPER NERVE OF THE RAT

The response amplitude in the chorda tympani proper nerve of rats to taste stimulation has been studied at different times after interruption of the nerve in the middle ear. The results show that the response in the nerve declined and disappeared completely within 15 h after the nerve was interrupted. As a first sign of deteriorating function a stage of hypersensitivity was observed. Results obtained during applications of local anesthetic or colchicine and section at different distances from the tongue indicate that the decreased response was the result of an interruption of axoplasmic flow from the nerve cell bodies in the geniculate ganglion to the taste buds. © 1979 Scandinavian Physiological Society