Responses of Rat Chorda Tympani Fibers to Electrical Stimulation of the Tongue

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Responses of rat chorda tympani fibers to stimulations of the tongue with linearly rising anodal currents of varying rise rates and intensities, cathodal currents and chemical solutions representing the four basic taste qualities were obtained. Single fibers were classified into four types according to their response patterns to anodal and cathodal current stimulations of the tongue. Type Al fibers responded only to an anodal current with both transient and steady, response phases. Type A2 fibers responded only to an anodal current with only a steady response phase. Type B fibers responded to both anodal and cathodal currents. Type C fibers responded only to a cathodal current. Sensitivity to the rate of anodal current rise varied widely among individual chorda tympani fibers. The NaCl-sensitive fibers were most sensitive, the tartaric acid-sensitive fibers next, and the sucrose-sensitive fibers least. Fibers responding to cathodal current were sensitive to quinine hydrochloride. Fibers which showed rhythmic bursts of discharges in response to chemical stimuli also gave a similar discharge pattern in response to electrical stimulation.