Changes in histological structure and microvasculature of the rat tongue after transection of the hypoglossal nerve.

Abstract

This investigation was made on sequential changes in the tongue caused by unilateral transection of the hypoglossal nerve in the rat. These changes were examined on the basis of gross inspection of the lingual dorsal surface, histological aspects of the intrinsic muscle and interstitial tissues, morphological changes in the capillary loops of the filiform papillae utilizing plastic microcorrosion casts, and blood flux and number of erythrocytes in the lingual dorsum as determined by laser Doppler flowmetry. The period of examination following denervation of the hypoglossal nerve was divided into 3-5 days, 1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7 and 66 weeks. The initial sign of histological change was an edematous change that later developed to atrophic change of the muscular element. This pathological change caused a change in volume on the lesion side of the tongue and finally formed a depression on the dorsal surface and a scallop-like lateral margin. Four to five weeks after denervation, the lesion half swelled, and its lingual apex elongated forward with a coving of the lingual median groove. The filiform papillae showed decreased keratinization, and interpapillary intervals were somewhat widened. Capillary loops in the papillae began to change, showing slight twistings at the tips of loops. Additionally, bulging, coiling and tortuosity were observed on both crura. The loops showed more complicated transformation, and little recovery was observed even 66 weeks after denervation. Blood flux in the dorsal mucosa decreased very slowly after a slight increase. This process seemed to be in proportion to the transformational complexity of the capillary loops in the filiform papillae. In conclusion, unilateral transection of the hypoglossal nerve, which is composed almost entirely of efferent neurons, caused edema and atrophic change in the intrinsic lingual muscle fibers with interstitial fibrosis in the lesion half of the tongue. Capillary loops in the filiform papillae were transformed markedly and successively by transection of the hypoglossal vasomotor neuron together with a slight decrease in blood flow in the dorsal mucosa. None of these changes recovered even at 66 weeks after transection.