Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of the Lingual Papillae in the Arctic Fox (Alopex lagopus L., 1758)

Abstract

This study aims to show the distribution and the three-dimensional structure of the lingual papillae in the arctic fox. The macro- and microscopic structure of the tongue and its lingual papillae was studied in 11 adult arctic foxes. Two types of mechanical papillae were distinguished on the dorsal surface of the tongue--filiform papillae and conical papillae. The gustatory papillae in the arctic fox are represented by fungiform, vallate and foliate papillae. The keratinized filiform papillae on the anterior part of tongue are composed of one big posterior process accompanied by 10-12 secondary anterior processes. The number of anterior processes of filiform papillae undergo a complete reduction within the area between the posterior part of the body of the tongue and area of the vallate papillae. The conical papillae cover the whole dorsal surface of the root of the tongue, including the lateral parts surrounding the area of the vallate papillae and the posterior part of the root. The size of the conical papillae increases towards the root of the tongue but their density decreases. In the arctic fox, there are three pairs of vallate papillae distributed on the plan of a triangle. The diameter of vallate papillae in each successive pair is bigger. The wall surrounding the body of the vallate papilla and its gustatory trench is composed of six to eight conical papillae joined at various degree. The foliate papillae on both margins of the tongue consist of seven to nine laminae.

Morphological characteristics of the papillae and lingual epithelium of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)

“…After the removal of the epithelium, CTCs revealed the connective filiform papillae with highly different shapes. According to Jackowiak, Godynicki, Skieresz‐Szewczyk, and Trzcielińska‐Lorych (), the filiform papillae are numerous and had a greater contact with food on the tongue surface. Numberless long filiform papillae directed towards the caudal region were observed in present study.…”

Morphology of the Filiform Lingual Papillae in Porcupine (Hystrix cristata)

“…The morphology and distribution of the lingual papillae has recently been well documented in a wide range of animal species, ranging from reptiles (Abbate et al., 2009) to feral and domestic mammals (Benetti et al., 2009; Jackowiak et al., 2009; Trzcielińska‐Lorych et al., 2009) including rodents such as rats (Iida et al., 1985; Kullaa‐Mikkonen et al., 1987; Iwasaki et al., 1997, 1999), mice (Iwasaki et al., 1987b, 1996; Meisel et al., 1987), hamsters (Fernandez et al., 1978), guinea pigs (Kobayashi, 1990) and flying squirrels (Emura et al., 1999). However, the morphology of the filiform papillae of porcupine has not yet been described before.…”

Morfologia das papilas linguais de coelhos Oryctolagus cuniculus (Lagomorpha: Leporidae)

“…Estão em alta concentração e tamanho no ápice, assim como nas espécies marten japonês (Martes melampus) (EMURA et al, 2007), cão-guaxinim (Nyctereutes procyonoides) (EMURA et al, 2006), tigre siberiano (Panthera tigris altaica) (EMURA et al, 2004), raposa vermelha (Vulpes vulpes fulva) (JACKOWIAK; GODYNICK, 2004) e raposa do ártico Alopex lagopus (JACKOWIAK et al, 2009). Nos porcos-da-índia Cavia porcellus (KOBAYASHI, 1990), preguiça de coleira Bradypus torquatus (BENETTI et al, 2009) e a lebre-patagônica Dolichotis patagonum (EMURA et al, 2011b) estão presentes apenas no ápice e nas superfícies laterais da língua.…”

“…Em um aspecto geral, a morfologia das papilas linguais já foi estudada nos coelhos (SILVA et al, 2002;GODYNICKI, 2007a;2007b;NONAKA et al, 2008), roedores (IINO; KOBAYASHI, 1988;SHINDO et al, 2006;KILINC et al, 2010), ruminantes (EERDUNCHAOLU et al, 2001;GUIMARÃES et al, 2007;MAHABADY et al, 2010), carnívoros (EMURA et al, 2004;GODYNICKI, 2004;JACKOWIAK et al, 2009) e primatas (KOBAYASHI et al, 2004BURITY et al, 2009;BRANCO et al, 2011;, no entanto, um estudo pormenorizado destas estruturas em coelhos ainda não foi realizado.…”