Abstract
Sweet substances (sucrose, lactose, glucose, fructose, galactose, glycerin and aspartame), excepting Na saccharin, effectively interacted with a negatively-charged lipid membrane of dioleyl phosphate (DOPH). These sweet substances decreased the membrane resistance and depolarized the membrane potential. This response differed from those to bitter, sour and salty substances. Together with the result for transient response, it is suggested that sweet substances could penetrate the lipid membrane. Mono- and disaccharides exerted their effects at a concentration corresponding to the threshold value of taste sensation in vivo. Aspartame, which is about 100-fold sweeter than sucrose, was effective at one-hundredth of this concentration. In addition, the effect of sweet substances on a positively-charged lipid membrane was studied. Changes in the membrane electrical potential and resistance were observed by employing Na saccharin, which had no effect on the DOPH membrane.
