The zebrafish is a common model for developmental studies including those regarding tooth, palate and tongue. Nevertheless, little information is available about the morphology of the oral cavity in this teleost, especially in adult animals. In this study we used light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy to describe in detail the morphology of the oral cavity of adult zebrafish. The oral cavity could be divided into three different zones: the outer containing the lips, the intermediate corresponding to the internal valves and the internal that corresponds to the tongue. In the upper and lower intermediate zones, there were semilunar shaped valves, more prominent in the upper part. The internal lower zones correspond to the palate and the tongue, which is an individualized structure filled with numerous transversal ridges. Both the intermediate and internal zones were covered by a stratified epithelium containing numerous mucous and rodlet cells. Present data provide the first description of the morphology and structure of the oral cavity in the adult zebrafish and might serve as a baseline for developmental studies of the oral cavity using this teleost as a model.

Neurotrophins play a critical role in the development of the mammalian ovary, oogenesis and folliculogenesis.In this study we investigated the cell localization of the two main receptors for nerve growth factor (NGF), TrkA and p75 NTR , in the cow and pig ovary, using immunohistochemistry. Specific immunoreactivity for TrkA and p75 The practical relevance of these data remains to be clarified.

The oral cavity of vertebrates has a very important role in many functions strictly related to the food processing. Two species, sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax and seabream Sparus aurata, are mainly involved in the aquaculture industry in the mediterranean area; moreover, the white seabream Diplodus sargus sargus was recently chosen as the best candidate for the diversification of species of commercial interest. This investigation was carried out, using the standard procedures for light and scanning electron microscopy, to analyse the morphology of the tongue dorsal surface in order to show whether relationships are present between the tongue morphology and the nutritional choices of these species. In all the three investigated species, three different areas were observed on the dorsal lingual surface: an apex, a body and a root. In the sea bass D. labrax, numerous caninelike teeth, organized in pads, were present along the dorsal surface. The presence of numerous taste buds, scattered on the tongue, was shown. In the seabream S. aurata, the apical part of the tongue is inserted in a pouch with a characteristic medial ridge on the body surface. Numerous taste buds were scattered on the whole surface. In the white seabream D. sargus sargus, a pouch partially covering the apex was clearly observed. In the pouch, filiform-like and foliate-like papillae can be distinguished. The results show the important role of the fish tongue in the food ingestion process, demonstrating the interaction of food processing, taste and morphological characteristics.

Abstract. In dairy cows the peripartum period involves endocrine and metabolic changes to compensate for the increased energy requirement aggravated by reduced feed intake. Cows adjust to the resulting negative energy balance with the mobilization of lipids from adipose tissue that, if excessive, could lead to many transition disorders compromising the offspring's growth and well-being. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamic changes in serum lipid and lipoprotein profiles in five dairy cows during the peripartum period. For each cow body condition score (BCS) and body weight (BW) measurements as well as blood sampling was carried out 60, 30 and 15 days before calving (−60, −30 and −15 BC), at calving day (C) and on days 15, 30 and 60 after calving (+15, +30 and +60 AC). Blood samples were tested for serum total lipids, phospholipids, triglycerides, very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs), total cholesterol (Total-Chol), high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) and low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine the effect of the peripartum period on the studied parameters in cows. A statistically significant effect of the peripartum period (P < 0.05) was found in the values of BCS, BW and all serum lipid and lipoprotein indices measured in cows. The changes observed in lipid indices of peripartum cows could be due to the start of milking and the increase in energy consumption in the body, confirming that metabolic adjustments occur as cows move from the gestation to the lactation period.

The blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua scincoides) is a variety of large skink common throughout Australia. There are seven species of Tiliqua and all of them have long bodies, short limbs and short and robust tails. T. scincoides occurs in a wide range of habitats; its diet is omnivorous. When threatened, it opens the mouth and protrudes its characteristic large fleshy cobalt blue tongue. It is currently found as a popular species and also as a pet animal in the European countries. No data are available in literature about the morphology of the tongue of T. scincoides; therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate by means of scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy, the anatomy of the dorsal lingual surface. Our results demonstrate the presence of a tongue tip with a smooth surface without papillae. The foretongue was characterized by a stratified epithelium with foliate-like papillae and deep inter-papillar spaces in the middle part and cylindrical papillae with a flat surface in the lateral parts. All the posterior area of the tongue was characterized by more compacted papillae and the inter-papillar spaces were very narrow. Light microscopy showed the presence of melanin throughout the tongue. No taste buds were recognized on the lingual dorsal surface. Therefore, the papillae probably have a mechanical function showing an important role in the swallowing phase. The morphology of the tongue surface can be correlated to the diet and, different roles, as in other examined species, can be hypothesized for different areas.