Comparative morphological study of the lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores of the koala

The stereo structure of each lingual papilla of the koala has a similar structure to that of various other animal species: the koala has a lingual prominence (intermolar prominence) with larger filiform papillae. (A lingual prominence is a characteristic in herbivorous animals.) The external form and connective tissue core (CTC) of the filiform papillae of koalas consist of one large main process and several smaller accessory processes. (These are similar to carnivorous animals.) Fungiform CTC have a thick dome-like structure, with several taste buds on the top. There are three vallate papillae: one central midline and two laterally located vallate papillae. The central vallate papilla has a posterior pouch lined with ciliated and non-ciliated epithelial cells. Long conical papillae are distributed in the posterior lateral area where foliate papillae are distributed in many other animal species. (Finger-like papillae are seen in dog and cat instead of foliate papillae.) It may be suggested that the tongue of the koala evolved in a special environment in Australia. Even though it has still retained special features similar to those of carnivorous cats and dogs it has evolved to resemble the tongues of herbivorous animals.     

Comparative morphological study on the stereo-structure of the lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores of the American beaver (Castor canadensis)

The lingual papillae and the connective tissue cores (CTC) of the American beaver were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The tongue of American beaver was about 9 cm in length, 3.5 cm in width, and has a lingual prominence. Four types of papillae (filiform, fungiform, vallate and foliate papillae) were observed. The filiform papillae can be classified into three types (filiform, large filiform and dorm-like papillae). Filiform papillae distributed on the anterior tongue and posterior of the lingual prominence consisted of a posterior thick main process and several small accessory processes. After removal of the epithelium, the CTCs of the filiform papillae had U-shaped, horseshoe-like primary cores with 10-15 rod-shaped small accessory cores. Large filiform papillae were distributed at the anterior margin of the lingual prominence. Dome-like papillae were distributed at the top of lingual prominence. Fungiform papillae were observed two types. Fungiform papillae, which were distributed at the anterior tongue, were round shaped. Fungiform papillae of the posterior of the lingual prominence were large and surrounded with a papillary groove. At the posterior of the tongue, three vallate papillae were arranged in a triangular pattern. Foliate papillae were on 22 to 25 parallel ridges and grooves.     

Comparative observations on lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores in three primates. A scanning electron microscopic study

The 3-D structure of the connective tissue cores (CTCs) of the lingual papillae in three primates (treeshrew, crab-eating monkey and man) was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Each filiform papilla has some slender protrusions on the top in the three kinds of primates. After removal of the epithelium, the CTC of the filiform papillae has a columnar primary core with some rod shaped secondary protrusions whose number and size vary among the three species. The number of secondary protrusions on the filiform CTC is generally small in the treeshrew and is the greatest in man. The stereo structure of the filiform CTC is fundamentally similar in all these three species and is different from those of other animal orders (i.e. Insectivora, Rodentia etc.). The fungiform CTC in man as well as in the crab-eating monkey is coralliform in shape and branched several times with small depressions for taste buds on the top of each one, though there were some differences between the two species in stereo structure. On the other hand, the fungiform CTC in the treeshrew was columnar in shape and was rather similar to that of Insectivora and Rodentia. In the treeshrew there are several finger-like processes in the region where foliate papillae are located in man as well as in the crab-eating monkey.     

Morphology of the lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores in the cape hyrax

The dorsal lingual surfaces of four adult cape hyraxes (Procavia capensis) were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Filiform, fungiform and foliate papillae were observed. The lingual body had lingual torus on the posterior third. In the lateral sides of the tongue large fungiform papillae were observed and in the lateral sides of the torus very developmental foliate papillae were observed. Many fungiform papillae were observed in the ventral surface of the lingual apex. No vallate papillae were seen on the dorsal surface. The filiform papilla on the apical surface of the tongue had shovel-shaped papilla. The filiform papilla contained the connective tissue core consisting of some processes. The connective tissue core of the fungiform papillae was floral bud in shape. In the surface of the lingual torus numerous dome-shaped papillae are found. The dome-shaped papilla contained the connective tissue core consisting of a zigzag surface structure and the connective tissue core is surrounded by the processes of various sizes. In the surface of the lingual root numerous openings of the lingual glands were found. Around the glandular openings connective tissue ridges formed circular sheaths. In the lateral sides of the tongue large fungiform papillae were round in shape. The connective tissue core of the fungiform papilla was floral bud in shape. The foliate papillae were seen on the dorsolateral aspect of the tongue and some ridges and grooves were exposed reciprocally. Many small protrusions appeared on the connective tissue core of the ridge of the foliate papilla. These findings suggested that in the structure of the lingual papillae of the cape hyrax there was intermediate type between Rodentia and Artiodactyla.     

Comparative morphological study on the lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores (CTC) in reeves’ muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi)

The lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores (CTC) from Reeves’ muntjac deers (herbivorous artiodactyla) were studied using light and scanning electron microscopy and then compared to those of other mammalian species. At the posterior portion of the tongue, the Reeves’ muntjac has a lingual prominence on which large conical papillae are distributed. On the dorsal surface of the anterior tongue, numerous filiform papillae were found. Externally, each filiform papilla consists of a rod-shaped main process and several small accessory processes. Their CTCs consist of 10 or more rod-shaped processes arranged in a horseshoe pattern and several posterior processes forming a small circular pattern. This structure is a common characteristic of artiodactyla, through which Reeves’ muntjac deer can be categorized in a position in the artiodactyla class lying between the bighorn sheep and the East African bongo. Fungiform papillae are distributed among the filiform papillae on the anterior portion of the tongue. Large fungiform papillae are also sparsely distributed on the lingual prominence and have several taste buds in the epithelium on the surface. Ten or more vallate papillae are distributed at the postero-lateral area of the lingual prominence and numerous taste buds are distributed in the epithelium of their side.     

Light and scanning electron microscopic study on the lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores of the Cape hyrax Procavia capensis

We examined the epithelial surface and connective tissue cores (CTCs) of each lingual papilla on the Paenungulata, Cape hyrax (Procavia capensis), by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. The tongue consisted of a lingual apex, lingual body and lingual root. Filiform, fungiform and foliate papillae were observed on the dorsal surface of the tongue; however, fungiform papillae were quite diminished on the lingual prominence. Moreover, no clearly distinguishable vallate papillae were found on the tongue. Instead of vallate papillae, numerous dome-like large fungiform papillae were arranged in a row just in front of the rather large foliate papillae. Foliate papillae were situated in the one-third postero-lateral margin of the lingual body. The epithelium of filiform papillae was covered by a keratinized layer with kerato-hyaline granules, whereas weak keratinization was observed on the interpapillary epithelium. The external surface of the filiform papillae was conical in shape. CTCs of the filiform papillae were seen as a hood-like core with a semicircular concavity in the anterior portion of each core. Large filiform papillae were distributed on the lingual prominence. The CTCs of large filiform papillae after exfoliation of their epithelium consisted of a concave primary core and were associated with several small protrusions. The surface of fungiform papillae was smooth and dome-like. After removal of the epithelium, CTCs appeared as a flower bud-like primary core and were associated with several protrusions that were arranged on the rim of the primary core. Several taste buds were found on the top of the dorsal part of the epithelium of both fungiform and large fungiform papillae. Well-developed foliate papillae were seen and numerous taste buds could be observed in the lateral wall of the epithelium in a slit-like groove. The morphological characteristics of the tongue of the Cape hyrax had similarities with other Paenungulata such as Sirenia. However, three-dimensional characteristics, especially CTCs of lingual papillae, exhibited multiple similarities with rodents, insectivores and artiodactyls.     

Stereo architecture of the connective tissue cores of the lingual papillae in the treeshrew (Tupaia glis).

Summary The stereo architecture of the lingual connective tissue cores (CTC) in the treeshrew (Tupaia glis) (which has the primitive characteristics of primates) was observed by scanning electron microscopy, and compared to that of other animal orders. The tongue of the treeshrew has three vallate papillae which are situated in the posterior part of the tongue, while some macaques have several vallate papillae. Among numerous filiform papillae, fungiform papillae are sporadically distributed. A filiform papilla consists of a bundle of several slender spine-like processes arranged in a circle at the basal margin. After removal of the epithelium, the CTC of the filiform papilla looks like a human hand raised with the palm facing towards the tongue tip. The fungiform CTC in the threeshrew is columnar in shape (rather similar to that of Insectivora and Rodentia) and at the top there are several round depressions for taste buds. In the treeshrew several large rod-shaped processes are derived from the postero-lateral margin of the tongue, as in Carnivora (dogs and cats), where foliate papillae are located in many other animal species. The treeshrew has numerous characteristics similar to those of the crab-eating macaque (Primates), but at the same time it has some characteristics similar to those of Insectivora, Rodentia, Carnivora and Artiodactyla.     

SEM studies on the connective tissue cores of the lingual papillae of the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

The lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores (CTCs) of the northern goshawk were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The length of the tongue was approximately 2.5 cm. The median groove divided the body of the tongue into symmetrical parts. At a point approximately 2/3 of the length, there were large conical papillae between the body and the root of the tongue, the apices of which were pointed towards the posterior part of the tongue. Under the light microscopy, the filiform papillae of the dorsal surface in the lingual body showed the desquamate cells of non-keratinized epithelium. There were openings of the lingual glands on the anterior part and root of the tongue. The lingual papillae and their CTCs of the northern goshawk had a structure similar to those of the white tailed eagle and black kite.     

Three-dimensional architecture of the connective tissue core of the lingual papillae in the guinea pig

Summary The three-dimensional structure of the connective tissue core (CTC) of the lingual papillae of the guinea pig was studied by means of scanning electron microscopy, after fixation with Karnovsky's fixative and after removal of the epithelial cell layers by long-term treatment with hydrochloric acid. The CTC of four types of lingual papillae was revealed. (a) Filiform papillae distributed over the anterior part (comprising about one half of the tongue) are characterized by having a few long connective tissue protrusions arranged transversely to the long axis of the tongue, while large conical papillae distributed on the intermolar prominence (intermediate part comprising most of the posterior half of the tongue) have more numerous and longer connective tissue protrusions, forming a bundle. (b) Fungiform papillae scattered among the filiform papillae are restricted to the anterior part of the tongue and possess connective tissue components in the form of a fist-like structure. (c) Foliate papillae are found in lateral and posterior locations. At both sites they contain slender epithelial crypts. Removal of the epithelia reveals wide grooves which correspond to the epithelial crypts. The rims of these grooves are surrounded by numerous small protrusions.     

Comparative morphological studies on the stereo structure of the lingual papillae of selected primates using scanning electron microscopy

A scanning electron microscope was used to observe the lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores (CTCs) in five primates (tupai, tamarin, crab-eating monkey, mandrill, and human). There were some slender protrusions rising from the top of the filiform papilla in all five types of primate. After removing the epithelium the filiform CTC from the tupai, tamarin and crab-eating monkey displayed a U-shaped arrangement of rod-shaped protrusions. The filiform CTC from the crab-eating monkey also had a columnar base. The human filiform CTC consisted of a primary columnar base, numerous short rod-shaped secondary protrusions from its upper periphery, and a few central protrusions. The filiform CTC from the Mandrill was fundamentally similar to that of the human, however, its base was shorter. The fungiform CTC from the tupai was column shaped, with several depressions for taste buds on the top.

There were three vallate papillae in the tupai, tamarin, and mandrill, approximately four in the monkey, and between five and twelve in the human. Moderately developed foliate papillae were found in the tamarin, monkey, mandrill and human. The tupai, however, possessed a finger-like lateral organ instead. The lingual root area of the tupai, tamarin, crab-eating monkey and mandrill was relatively small with a smooth surface. Only the human had a tonsil structure, which was located on the surface of its larger lingual root.     

Noradrenergic innervation of the lingual papillae in certain rodents pre-treated with adriblastin. I. Comparative study on the filiform and fungiform papillae

A comparative study was carried out on the behaviour of the noradrenergic fibres of the filiform and fungiform papillae of four different species of laboratory animals. The adrenergic network proved to be less important in rats and mice than in guinea-pigs and rabbits; moreover, the extreme branchings proved to be more or less closely connected with the taste buds of the mice, guinea-pigs and rabbits. Hypotheses are advanced concerning the possible significance of adrenergic innervation of these lingual papillae.     

Morphological changes in oral mucosae and their connective tissue cores regarding oral submucous fibrosis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic disease of the oral cavity characterized by an inflammatory reaction followed by severe fibro-elastic changes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the three-dimensional morphological changes in the connective tissue cores (CTCs) of the oral mucosa in OSF. The sample consisted of buccal mucosal biopsies from ten human subjects ranging in age from 40-45 years; five of them were clinically diagnosed as having moderate to severe OSF, and the remaining five served as unaffected controls. Half of each biopsy was formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded for light microscopy, while the other half was fixed in a Karnovsky's solution, treated with HCl to exfoliate the epithelium, and processed for examination under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Oral submucous fibrosis biopsies exhibited heavily packed aldehyde fuchsin-positive fibers (i.e. elastic fibers) in the submucosa under the light microscope. Broad bundles of collagen fibers were seen in a concentrated manner in the deeper layers. Scanning electron microscopy of the buccal mucosa in OSF showed the finger-shaped CTCs to be attenuated beneath the epithelium at the initial stages of the disease. Patchy degenerative areas lacking the CTCs were observed in advanced cases. These degenerative areas increased gradually with the progression of the disease. Highly fibrosed cases showed severe degeneration of the CTCs, resulting in a smoothening of the connective tissue surface in the buccal mucosa.     

Scanning electron microscopic study on the lingual papillae of the Japanese insectivora

The tongue and lingual papillae of the Japanese Insectivora, the Shinto shrew (Sorex caecuiens saevus), the long-clawed shrew (S. unguiculatus), the dsinezumi shrew (Crocidura dsinezumi dsinezumi) and the Japanese water shrew (Chimarrogale himalyica platycephala), were observed by scanning electron microscope. The tongue of these animals had two vallate papillae. In two species of the Sorex a papilla in the vallate papilla was surrounded by two separated trenches, but in the other species it was surrounded by only a continuous trench and a clear vallum. The fungiform papillae in the Sorex were less developed than those of the other species. In the Sorex and Crocidura, there was no filiform papilla on the lingual apex. These genera, however, have papillary projections in the margin of the lingual apex. The results of this investigation suggest that the Sorex and Crocidura indicate an ancient form of the mammalian tongue. These characters, furthermore, were compared among seven species in six genera added three species observed by Kobayashi et al. (1983) to this study.     

大鼠不同部位疏松结缔组织撕片的制备和观察

目的　对比大鼠皮下取材和肠系膜取材制备疏松结缔组织撕片的差异;观察同一部位取材的疏松结缔组织HE染色和醛复红-亮绿-橘黄G染色差异;分析不同部位取材的疏松结缔组织两种染色方法的结果差异。 方法　Wistar大鼠腹腔注射10 g/L苔盼蓝生理盐水溶液2.5 ml,1次/d,连续3 d,分别在皮下、肠系膜取疏松结缔组织,铺片。两个部位的铺片分别采用HE染色、醛复红-亮绿-橘黄G染色。 结果　皮下取材疏松结缔组织经HE染色可见大量成纤维细胞,肥大细胞明显,巨噬细胞可见,弹性纤维和胶原纤维可见,但不明显;皮下取材疏松结缔组织经醛复红-亮绿-橘黄G染色弹性纤维呈紫红色、胶原纤维呈橙色,细胞不易着色;肠系膜取材疏松结缔组织经HE染色,可见成纤维细胞、肥大细胞、巨噬细胞明显,弹性纤维呈蓝紫色、胶原纤维呈淡红色;肠系膜取材疏松结缔组织经醛复红-亮绿-橘黄G染色,弹性纤维被染成紫红色、胶原纤维染成鲜艳的绿色,肥大细胞被染成紫红色,核呈圆或椭圆形、棕黄色,巨噬细胞清晰可见、形态不规则,胞质中可见粗大呈蓝紫色的苔盼蓝颗粒,细胞核呈圆形、棕黄色;成纤维细胞胞质无着色,核呈棕黄色。 结论　大鼠肠系膜取材制备的疏松结缔组织撕片经醛复红-亮绿-橘黄G染色能够更好的显示各种类型细胞和纤维,各结构间对比明显。     

Morphology of the lingual papillae in the tiger

The dorsal lingual surfaces of an adult tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) was examined by macroscopical and scanning electron microscopical observations. Filiform, fungiform and vallate papillae were observed. The filiform papillae were distributed over the entire dosal surface of the tongue. The fungiform papillae were present rounded bodies, and more densely distributed on the lingual apex. There were 4 vallate papillae in total on borderline between the lingual body and lingual radix. Each papilla was surrounded by a groove. No foliate papillae were seen on the dorsal surface. Openings of the glandular ducts on the regions of the vallate papillae were found.     

Morphology of the lingual papillae in the sitatunga

We examined the dorsal lingual surfaces of an adult sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei) by scanning electron microscopy. Filiform, fungiform and vallate papillae were observed. The filiform papillae consisted of a larger main papilla and smaller secondary papillae. The filiform papilla contained connective tissue core consisting of several processes. The fungiform papillae were round in shape. The connective tissue core of the fungiform papilla was flower-bud shaped. Lenticular papillae were limited on the torus lingua. The connective tissue core of the lenticular papilla consisted of numerous small spines, or these spines and rod-shaped processes. The vallate papillae were flattened-oval shaped and the papillae were surrounded by a circular trench. The connective tissue core of the vallate papilla was covered with numerous small spines. These findings indicate that the tongue of the sitatunga is similar to that of the blackbuck and Barbary sheep.     

A morphological study on human lingual venous valves

Summary This study deals with the appearance, function and pathophysiological action of the lingual venous valve in the design of surgical tongue flaps and in analyzing inspection of the tongue. Thirty two adult cadavers were studied, of which 7 were corrosive cast specimens. The lingual v. is well supplied with venous valves which may be divided into 3 types morphologically: hemispherical, spherical, and hanging spherical. Venous valves are classified according to their structures: bivalves, monovalves, and venous cristae. The abundant venous valves of the tongue effectively prevent reflux of blood. Various factors that influence venous blood reflux in the head and neck can be observed, analysed and judged by inspection of the tongue; the design of the pedicle and the anastomotic position of tongue flap should comply with the positions and orientations of its venous valves.This work was supported by the National Natural Science Fund