Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies of the Lingual Papillae in the English Horse

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the distribution and surface structure of the lingual papillary system in four male adult English horses by scanning electron microscopy. The animals were supplied from the Jockey Club of Turkey (TJK). Tissue samples were taken from the dorsal, ventral and lateral surface of the apex, corpus and radix of the tongue. Filiform papillae were distributed mainly on the dorsum, being abundant, very long and with a slim cylindrical form with pointed endings or multi-bifurcated terminations at the apex. These papillae were typically conical in shape with a wider base in the corpus of the lingua and absent on the radix of the lingua. Fungiform papillae were mainly on the lateral surfaces and lobulated forms were also observed. The horses have two large vallate papillae, located on the dorsum close to the caudal part of the tongue. These papillae were surrounded by a prominent gustatory groove. The vallate papillae had many taste pores opening into the papillary groove. The foliate papillae were observed just rostral to the palatoglossal arches. These papillae have many variable sized taste pores which open into the grooves between the papillary leaves. The papillary leaves were covered with concentrically arranged cornifi ed cells of variable appearance. However, there were no lingual papillae on the ventral aspect of the horse's tongue.

Morphology and microstructure of the tongue of the lesser bamboo rat (Cannomys badius)

“…The organ also participates in gustatory perception due to the presence and locality of taste receptor cells. The morphology of the tongue may be influenced by the principal type(s) of food and feeding mechanism(s) utilized by the organism, which in turn will determine the success of the animals’ adaptation to their environment (Can, Atalgin, & Aydin, ; Iwasaki, ). Mammalian tongues show a great variability, ranging in their size and shape, types of salivary glands and features of the lingual papillae on the dorsal surface (Kilinc, Erdogan, Ketani, & Ketani, ; Shindo, Yoshimura, & Kobayashi, ).…”

Microstructure of the Surface of the Tongue and Histochemical Study of the Lingual Glands of the Lowland Tapir (Tapirus terrestris Linnaeus, 1758) (Perissodactyla: Tapiridae)

“…Filiform papillae seem to be similar in their appearance (hair-like or needle-like) in all described odd-toed ungulates [18][19][20][21][22][23]. Conical papillae were reported in the donkey [18] and the horse [19]. Vallate papillae were described in all species of the Equidae and Rhinocerotidae families but their number varied from two in the zebra [20] and in the horse [19,23], 2-5 in the donkey [18,22], approximately 60 [21] or 43 [24] in the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), 23-29 in the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) [24], and 21-23 in the Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) [24].…”

“…The lingual morphology has already been described in representatives of these families. Filiform papillae seem to be similar in their appearance (hair-like or needle-like) in all described odd-toed ungulates [18][19][20][21][22][23]. Conical papillae were reported in the donkey [18] and the horse [19].…”

Functional and Comparative Study of the Circumvallate Papillae in Four Species of Mammals

“…94 Hard-af-Segerstated and Hellekant 1989 95 stated that vallate and foliate papillae contribute in the transduction of sweet taste. Can et al 2016 96 supposed that the presence of foliate papillae might substitute the presence of few vallate papillae. Foliate papillae do not exist in all animals.In purely meat-eating animals like dogs, and in purely grasseating animals like goats, foliate papillae may have disintegrated through evolutionary processes.…”