Amiloride reduces the taste intensity of Na+ and Li+ salts and sweeteners.

Abstract

The diuretic amiloride, a potent inhibitor of Na transport in a variety of epithelial systems, was applied to the human tongue. Application of amiloride reduced the taste intensity of Na and Li salts and of sweetners ranging widely in chemical structure. The sweeteners included saccharides, glycosides, dipeptides, proteins and amino acids. Amiloride did not affect perception of K or Ca salts, bitter and sour tastes, or amino acids without a sweet or salty component. Neurophysiological studies in rat showed that amiloride diminished the NaCl response relative to KCl. An amiloride-sensitive transport mechanism is evidently involved in taste perception of Na and Li salts and of sweeteners.