Histomorphological Development of the Circumvallate Papillae in Goat Foetii (Capra hircus)

Abstract

The present study was conducted on the tongue of 18 goat foetii divided into three prenatal age groups to study the sequential events with regard to histological development of circumvallate papillae in goat foetii. The first indication of formation of circumvallate papillae in goat foetii was observed at 62 days of gestation (CRL =10.10 cm. At 120 days of gestation (CRL=31.10 cm), the papillary epithelium invaginated into the propria-submucosa to form serous acini. ). A well developed moat was marked on the lateral aspect of the papillae. At 134 days of gestational age in goat foetii (CRL= 32.00 cm), taste buds were observed on the apical surface of the circumvallate papillae and the papillae were lined by stratified squamous epithelium. At 146 days of gestation (CRL =35.50 cm), the stratified squamous epithelium of the circumvallate papillae showed a slight degree of keratinisation. In the present study, the mean values in regard to height of circumvallate papillae in the goat foetii of group I, II and III were recorded to be 28.05 ± 4.00 μ which increased significantly (P≤ 0.05) to 128.33 μ ± 9.84 in group II and then to 231.57 ± 20.36 μ in group III. Similarly, the mean diameter of the circumvallate papillae were recorded as 36.07 ± 2.73 μ, 161.03 ± 17.52 μ and 395.5 ± 33.50 μ in group I, II and III, respectively. In 146 day old foetus vallate papillae were developed locating 7 on right side and 5 numbers on the left side of the tongue.