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In good taste: An investigation of lactate metabolons in the mouse tongue

Recent studies of sensory receptor tissues in the mouse suggest the importance of lactate metabolons within those tissues for proper function. A lactate metabolon consists of a monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) and a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, such as Basigin gene products. In the neural retina, a lactate metabolon consisting of Basigin gene products and MCT‐1 and MCT‐4, has been deemed necessary for photoreceptor maturation and function. Basigin‐null mice do not express these metabolons and are blind from the time of eye opening. Basigin and MCT‐1 are also expressed on the myelin of olfactory nerve fibers, presumably to form a lactate metabolon required to support saltatory conduction. Basigin‐null mice have olfactory deficits, in that they do not respond to the smell of acetic acid as normal mice do. The absence of the metabolon likely accounts for the slower response rates observed in the null animals. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the presence of a lactate metabolon consisting of Basigin gene products and MCTs in the mouse tongue. Tongues were obtained from mice using an accepted protocol for use in immunohistochemical and quantitative RT‐PCR analyses. It was determined that Basigin is expressed on the mouse tongue epithelium, but not in the underlying muscle. No significant expression of MCT‐1 or MCT‐4 was detected in the tissue; however, MCT‐2 expression was observed within the taste buds. The data suggest that a lactate metabolon like those associated with olfactory nerve fibers and in the neural retina is not present in the mouse tongue.