Dr. Mistretta's research is to understand early development and differentiation of the taste system. Current projects in the laboratory include study of 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. In addition, experiments address the role of neurotrophins in promoting neurite outgrowth and regulating differentiation of neurophysiological properties of embryonic ganglion cells. The nature of the molecular exchange between tongue epithelium and mesenchymal tissues during formation of taste papillae, in advance of neurite growth into the tongue, is also being investigated.