College of Dentistry, New York University

2 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Medicine

Technique to Collect Fungiform (Taste) Papillae from Human Tongue

Andrew I. Spielman^*1, M. Yanina Pepino², Roy Feldman^3,4,5, Joseph G. Brand^*4,6

¹Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology, College of Dentistry, New York University, ²Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, ³Veterans Affairs Medical Center, ⁴School of Dental Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, University of Pennsylvania-School of Medicine, ⁵Monell Chemical Senses Center, ⁶Monell Chemical Senses Center

Knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying gustatory transduction has recently enjoyed significant advances, largely due to using animal models. However, the wide diversity in taste sensitivity and specificity among mammals warrants studies in human tissue. We describe a biopsy technique to collect living taste cells from the papillae on human tongue.

Neuroscience

Isolation and Culture of Human Fungiform Taste Papillae Cells

Hakan Ozdener¹, Andrew I. Spielman², Nancy E. Rawson³

¹Monell Chemical Senses Center, ²New York University College of Dentistry, ³AFB International

We aimed to develop a reproducible protocol for isolating and maintaining long-term cultures of human fungiform taste papillae cells. Cells from human fungiform papillae obtained by biopsy were successfully maintained in culture for more than eight passages (12 months) without loss of viability.