Three-dimensional aspects of the lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores in the tongue of rats: a scanning electron microscope study.

Gabriela De Souza Reginato,Adriano Polican Ciena,Ii-Sei Watanabe,Cristina De Sousa Bolina

doi:10.1155/2014/841879

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to describe the tridimensional morphological characteristics of the lingual papillae and their connective tissue cores (CTCs) in Sprague Dawley rats. Four types of papillae were reported on the dorsal surface. Filiform papillae were distributed on the tongue surface and after epithelial maceration a conic and multifilamentary shape of the CTCs was revealed. Fungiform papillae were reported on the rostral and middle regions covered by a squamous epithelium. After the removal of the epithelium, the shape of a volcano with the taste orifice at its top was noted. Foliate papillae were composed of five pairs of epithelial folds situated on the lateral-caudal margin of the tongue. After the removal of the epithelium, they were shown to be limited by thin laminar projections. The vallate papilla with an oval shape was present in the caudal region and delimited by an incomplete groove. The morphological characteristics of the lingual papillae of Sprague Dowley rats, three-dimensional SEM images, and the types of papillae on the dorsal surface were similar to those reported previously in other rodent mammals. The maceration technique revealed the details of extracellular matrix with varied shapes form of connective tissue cores.

Highlights

The tongue fills most of the oral cavity and extends itself to the mouth pharynx
The other samples were washed in distilled water and immersed in a 10% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) aqueous solution for 4 days at room temperature [19,20,21] for the removal of the epithelial surface and the analysis of the connective tissue core (CTC)
The analyses by scanning electron microscope showed that filiform papillae were the most numerous on the dorsal surface of the tongue with a decreased amount on the caudal region

Summary

Introduction

Its root is linked to a body and a free apex. It is a muscular organ capable of vigorous and precise movements, such as holding, lapping, grooming and manipulation of food within the oral cavity, and vocalization [1]. The fibers may be classified into two groups: fibers that originate outside of the tongue (extrinsic muscles) and those that originate within the tongue and which are inserted into it. The latter form the intrinsic muscles that change the tongue’s shape [2]

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