Selective Peripheral Taste Dysfunction in APP/PS1 Mutant Transgenic Mice.

Background: Previous studies indicate that taste dysfunction occurs early in the development of Alzheimer's disease. It is debatable whether the deficit in taste is due primarily to peripheral sensory mechanisms or to central processing, or a combination of the two.

Objective: The aim of our current study is to combine behavior and histological data in APP/PS1 transgenic mice to determine whether APP/PS1 transgenic mice show deficits in unconditioned taste preference and avoidance behaviors and whether taste impairments are due to defects in the peripheral taste system and/or problems with central processing of taste information.