My research is to understand development of the taste system. Current questions investigate developmental interactions between embryonic neurons in geniculate, petrosal and trigeminal ganglia and their sensory target organs in the tongue--the taste papillae and resident taste buds. To learn about initial formation and differentiation of the taste ganglia and papillae, we use cell and organ culture systems, and co-cultures of embryonic sensory ganglia and tongue tissues. Recent experiments are focused on understanding the role of exogenous neurotrophins in neurite outgrowth from gustatory ganglion cells. Cultured ganglion explants are further studied using whole cell recordings to examine electrophysiological properties, with and without added neurotrophins and target organs. In studies of taste papillae, the role of patterning genes in directing papilla induction is of interest. The nature of the molecular exchanges between tongue epithelial and mesenchymal tissues during formation of the taste papillae, in advance of neurite growth into the tongue, is also being investigated.

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