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Tongues were removed from fetuses of mice on the 15th day of gestation (E15), from newborns (PO), from juveniles on the 7th day (P7) and on the 14th day (P14) after birth for examination by scanning electron microscopy. In the fetuses at E15, rudiments of fungiform papillae with a relatively regular, lattice-like pattern were visible on the anterior half of the dorsal surface of the tongue. The outline of the rudiment of a circumvallate papilla could be recognized on the median line between the lingual body and the lingual radix. No rudiments of filiform papillae could be seen. At PO, rudiments of filiform papillae were compactly distributed over the dorsal surface, as are the filiform papillae in the adult, their width was approximately one-third of that of fungiform papillae, and their tips were rounder than those of the filiform papillae in the adult. The fungiform papillae then increased in size and became somewhat irregular in shape. In juveniles at P7, the filiform papillae were long and slender, being relatively large on the intermolar eminence. A taste pore was visible in the center of each fungiform papilla at this stage. The shape of the circumvallate papilla was similar to that in the adult. In juveniles at P14, the shapes of all three types of papilla were almost the same as those in the adult. The rudiments of each of the three kinds of lingual papilla appeared at a different stage of development of mice; rudiments of the fungiform and circumvallate papillae, which are related to the sense of taste, were formed earlier than those of the filiform papillae, which are not involved in taste.

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To evaluate the age-related response of essential cell fiuctions against peroxidative damage in hyperthermia, we s the bi response to heat stress in both young a aged rats.Passive hyperhermiawas immediately observed in ratsafter ex e to tenvionments. In aged rats, the rctal temperature mntaned thermal homeostais and increased to the same degee as in young rats. in these aged animals, the daage from heat stres was more serious tha '

Background Many studies have been performed to clarify the relationship between behavioral performance of the tongue and Jacobson's organ. The purpose of the present study was to examine the ultrastructural features of the surface of the tongue of the rat snake, Elaphe climacophora, and to delineate the functional relationship between the tongue and Jacobson's organ from a morphological perspective. Methods The three‐dimensional ultrastructure of the surface of the tongue of the rat snake Elaphe climacophora was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Results Most of the surface of the bifurcated apex of the tongue was relatively smooth. Dome‐shaped, hemispherical bulges or microfacets were compactly arranged on the epithelial cell surface over this entire region. Intercellular borders were clearly recognizable as striations. These features were almost the same as those of the dorsal surface of the transitional area between the bifurcated lingual apex and the anterior part of the lingual body. In the posterior half of the lingual body, no microfacets were seen at all. Both microridges and microvilli were compactly distributed on cell surfaces. Conclusions No evidence was obtained from our ultrastructural analysis for an important role of the lingual apex in the vomeronasal system. By contrast, the epithelial surface of the body of the tongue appeared suitable for retaining stimulating compounds. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.