A Method for Identifying Mouse Pancreatic Ducts.

Proper identification of pancreatic ducts is a major challenge for researchers performing partial duct ligation (PDL), because pancreatic ducts, which are covered with acinar cells, are translucent and thin. Although damage to pancreatic ducts may activate quiescent ductal stem cells, which may allow further investigation into ductal stem cells for therapeutic use, there is a lack of effective techniques to visualize pancreatic ducts. In this study, we report a new method for identifying pancreatic ducts.

[Taste receptors in multiple organs.].

There are five basic taste qualities, umami, sweet, bitter, salty and sour tastes. These taste qualities are transduced through corresponding taste receptors that reside on taste cells in the oral cavity. Unlike salty or sour receptors, receptors for umami, sweet and bitter belong to G protein coupled receptor family.