The effect of bilateral sectioning of the chorda tympani and glossopharyngeal nerves on the sweet taste in the mouse

The chorda tympani nerve (CT) and the glossopharyngeal nerve (GL) have been considered important nerves for the sense of taste. We studied the effect of bilateral sectioning of the CT and/or GL on the sweet taste in the mouse. Before and after surgery we analyzed the daily drinking patterns, using the two-bottle preference test method. The normal mouse drank the low concentration sucrose solution (0.0125 M) more than distilled water. This report showed that the mouse who was bilateral sectioned, both CT and GL or bilateral sectioned CT, rejected drinking the low concentration of sucrose solution. In contrast, the mouse who was bilateral sectioned GL drank the low concentration sucrose solution like the normal mouse did. These phenomena suggested that the fungiform papilae play an important role to detect the low concentration of sucrose (0.0125 M) as a sweet favorable taste substance.