Abstract
P2Y-like receptors are appeared to play some roles in taste signal transductions in taste bud cells on the basis of the physiological studies. However, the expression patterns of P2Y receptor subtypes have not been revealed in taste tissue. In this study, the expression patterns of P2 (P2Yl, P2Y2 and P2Y4) receptor subtypes were examined by using RT-PCR immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in rat gustatory papillae. These analyses showed that P2Yl receptor, but not P2Y2 receptor and P2Y4 receptor, was expressed in circumvallate taste buds. Therefore, P2Yl receptor may play some roles in ATP mediated signal transductions.
