Abstract
Received: 2017-01-09 | Accepted: 2017-02-24 | Available online: 2017-06-20 http://dx.doi.org/10.15414/afz.2017.20.01.31-35 Ageing is accompanied by physiological changes in the human oral cavity. These include potential reduction of the fungiform papillae (FP) density which has been associated with impaired taste acuity. Because the studies have demonstrated either contrary or non-significant evidences, we decided to verify the hypothesis about FP reduction and ageing. Total of 150 human living subjects aged 19â87 years participated in the study. The tongues were stained with blue food dye, quantification area with 10 mm diameter was defined, and images of the tongues were captured with digital camera. The number of FP has been scored on each photo by five individual scorers according to a decision tree. The scoring was accomplished in ImageJ open source program using a cell counter plugin. The mean FP density value within all subjects was 18.02 ±15.95 FP per cm -2 , the lowest and the highest values were 0.25 ±0.57 FP per cm -2 and 65.00 ±1.66 FP per cm -2 of the tongue tip, respectively. Based on age, the subjects were divided into categories with 6.0 increasing step, in order access effect of ageing on FP densities. Age categories were significantly different in mean FP densities as determined by Welch's F (8, 22.04) = 28.81, P < 0.01). The Games-Howell post hoc test revealed that participants aged 18â24 years had significantly higher FP densities than subjects aged more than 48 years. High degree of intra-groups variance was observed, which could reflect in non-significant differences between the other age groups. Nevertheless, the results were sufficient to support the hypothesis that FP quantity diminish with age. Keywords: fungiform papillae, density, tongue, ageing References ADDINSOFT. (2016) XLSTAT: Analyse de données et statistique avec MS Excel. Addinsoft. CORREA, M. et al. (2013). Changes in Fungiform Papillae Density During Development in Humans. Chemical Senses , vol. 38, no. 6, pp. 519-527. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjt022 CVIJANOVIC, N. et al. (2015). Oral and intestinal sweet and fat tasting: impact of receptor polymorphisms and dietary modulation for metabolic disease. Nutrition Reviews , vol. 73, no . 5, pp. 318-334. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuu026 FISCHER, M. et al. (2013). Factors Related to Fungiform Papillae Density: The Beaver Dam Offspring Study. Chemical Senses , vol. 38, no. 8, pp. 669-677. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjt033 FENG, P., HUANG, L. and WANG, H. 2013. Taste Bud Homeostasis in Health, Disease, and Aging. Chemical Senses , vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 3-16. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjt059 GARNEAU, N. et al. (2014). Crowdsourcing taste research: genetic and phenotypic predictors of bitter taste perception as a model. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience , vol. 8, no. 33, pp. 1-8. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2014.00033 IKEDA, M. et al. (2007). Causative factors of taste disorders in the elderly, and therapeutic effects of zinc. The Journal of Laryngology and Otology , vol. 122, no. 2, pp. 155-160. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022215107008833 IMOSCOPI, A. et al. (2012). Taste loss in the elderly: epidemiology, causes and consequences. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research , vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 570-579. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3275/8520 JUST, T. et al. (2006). Contact Endoscopic Comparison of Morphology of Human Fungiform Papillae of Healthy Subjects and Patients with Transected Chorda Tympani Nerve. The Laryngoscope , vol. 116, no. 7, pp. 1216-1222. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.mlg.0000224509.61099.29 KONSTANTINIDIS, I. et al. (2010). Effects of smoking on taste: Assessment with contact endoscopy and taste strips. The Laryngoscope , vol. 120, no. 10, pp. 1958-1963. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/lary.21098 NUESSLE, T. et al. (2015). Denver Papillae Protocol for Objective Analysis of Fungiform Papillae. Journal of Visualized Experiments , vol. 100. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3791/52860 PAVLIDIS, P. et al. (2012). Age-related Changes in Electrogustometry Thresholds, Tongue Tip Vascularization, Density, and Form of the Fungiform Papillae in Humans. Chemical Senses , vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 35-43. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjs076 CHANDRASHEKAR, J. et al. (2006). The receptors and cells for mammalian taste. Nature , vol. 444, no. 7117, pp. 288-294. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature05401 SEGOVIA, C. et al. (2002). A quantitative study of fungiform papillae and taste pore density in adults and children. Developmental Brain Research , vol. 138, no. 2, pp. 135-146. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0165-3806(02)00463-7 SHAHBAKE, M. et al. (2005). Rapid quantitative assessment of fungiform papillae density in the human tongue. Brain Research , vol. 1052, no. 2, pp. 196-201. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2005.06.031 ZHANG, G. et al. (2008). The Relationship between Fungiform Papillae Density and Detection Threshold for Sucrose in the Young Males. Chemical Senses , vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 93-99. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjn059 ZUNIGA, J. et al. (1993). Taste performance on the anterior human tongue varles with fungiform taste bud density. Chem Senses , vol. 18, no. 5, pp. 449-460. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/chemse/18.5.449
Highlights
The dorsal anterior tongue in humans is rich in fungiform papillae (FP), which play an important role in taste functioning and oral sensation
The FP density commonly varies across the anterior tongue
Keratinisation of FP, decreased capillary vessels and distortion of filiform papillae has been reported for heavy smokers, but there was no significant difference in taste sensitivity and FP density, compared to non-smokers (Konstantinidis et al, 2010)
Summary
The dorsal anterior tongue in humans is rich in fungiform papillae (FP), which play an important role in taste functioning and oral sensation. The subjects who have higher numbers of papillae are being more sensitive to taste stimuli (Correa et al, 2013; Fischer et al, 2013; Zhang et al, 2008; Just et al, 2006). Up to now, it is not clear what factors are associated with the FP number or with possible changes in FP density over time (Fischer et al, 2013). Keratinisation of FP, decreased capillary vessels and distortion of filiform papillae has been reported for heavy smokers, but there was no significant difference in taste sensitivity and FP density, compared to non-smokers (Konstantinidis et al, 2010). Since contrary evidences have been published, we decided to examine the hypothesis whether ageing is associated with reduction of FP density
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
