Identification of the Lingual Papillae in the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy

Abstract

A morphological description of the sugar glider's (Petaurus breviceps) tongue was obtained from five individual sugar gliders and analysed under a scanning electron microscope and a light microscope using four methods of staining. The tongue has a noticeably elongated structure with three regions: apex, corpus and radix. Transition to the corpus is indicated by the sulcus medianus linguae and the frenulum on its ventral surface. The dorsal tongue displayed a raised mucous membrane manifesting as a type of papillae. Filiform papillae were differentiated into two subtypes: brushlike papillae, with a short base splitting into 5-6 processes; and flower bud filiform papillae that are shorter and wider than the former, and divided into a single main process and 4-5 secondary processes. Fungiform papillae with 1-2 taste buds are interspersed between filiform papillae and absent on the radix. Conical papillae cover the lateral margin of the corpus and increase in size when closer to the radix. Vallate papillae-three in number-are arranged as a triangular structure, with the middle papillae pointing towards the root of the tongue. A continuous groove wrapped around each papilla with several taste buds is found on its lateral surface. Two of the vallate papillae are located symmetrically on each side and are much smaller than the most caudal middle vallate that is directed posteriorly. A positive reaction using separate staining with periodic acid-Schiff and Alcian blue (pH 2.5) showed Weber's glands and von Ebner's glands appearing beneath the papillae, mainly on the muscle layer of the radix. Different reactions to the stains indicated that Weber's gland contains sialomucin and/or sulfomucin, whereas von Ebner's gland consists of serous cells secreting glycogen and/or neutral mucin. The collagen structure was identified using Masson's trichrome stain in the two bottom layers of the tongue from the apex, decreasing gradually towards the radix.

Morphology of lingual papillae in the Javan mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy

“…whether they are carnivores, omnivores or herbivores) as well as their environments and habitats, which may play a partial role in the evolution of the tongue's structure (Iwasaki et al, 2019). Such an adaptation based on diet, environment or habitat has been described in various studies, especially on mammals, such as goats (Mahdy et al, 2020), lemurs (Pastor et al, 2011), pumas (Erdoğan et al, 2017), sugar gliders (Damia et al, 2021) and several other carnivores, including polar bears, marsupials and bats (Emura et al, 2017;Goździewska-Harłajczuk et al, 2020;Gunawan et al, 2019;Saragih et al, 2020). Tongue morphology revealed a relationship between changes in habitat and changes in the appearance of the tongue; the transition from a freshwater (moist or wet) environment to a terrestrial (dry) environment resulted in the keratinization of the lingual epithelium (Iwasaki, 2002).…”

Lingual morphology of domesticated Asian small-clawed otters in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

“…The tongue morphology, in its macroscopic structure (tongue papillae types, shape, function, and distribution) in vertebrates, varies to fit their diets (i.e., whether they are carnivores, omnivores, or herbivores) as well as their environments and habitats, which may have played a partial role in the evolution of the tongue's structure (Iwasaki et al 2019). Such an adaptation based on the diet, environment, or habitat has been described in various studies, especially in mammals, such as goats (Mahdy et al 2021), pumas (Erdogan et al 2018), sugar gliders (Damia et al 2021), and several other carnivores, including polar bears, marsupials, and bats (Emura et al 2017;Gozdziewska-Harlajczuk et al 2020;Gunawan et al 2020). In a study, the tongue morphology revealed a relationship between changes in the habitat and changes in the appearance of the tongue; the transition from a freshwater (moist or wet) environment to a terrestrial (dry) environment resulted in the keratinisation of the lingual epithelium (Iwasaki 2002).…”

Morphological identification of the squirrel (Callosciurus notatus) tongue through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and histochemistry

“…In addition, the environment and or habitats also take part in the tongue morphology evolution (Iwasaki et al 2019;Williams 2019). Furthermore, morphology, distribution, amount and the type of vertebrate lingual papillae are mainly influenced by diet (Pastor et al 2011;Iwasaki 2019;Damia et al 2021).…”