Taste Neurons Have Multiple Inductive Roles in Mammalian Gustatory Developmenta

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Abstract
The embryonic loss of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF)-dependent taste axons in bdnf null mutant mice secondarily impairs the development of gustatory epithelia and taste buds. In normal mice gustatory development continues for at least two weeks postnatally as axons promote taste bud formation. We conclude that taste axons in the fungiform, foliate, vallate and nasopalate papillae: i) promote papilla development, and ii) establish competent gustatory cells and iii) mature taste buds. Hence, gustatory innervation contributes critically to at least three of the multiple inductive interactions controlling the development of mammalian gustatory structures