Three-dimensional characteristic of fungiform papillae and its taste buds in European bison (Bison bonasus), cattle (Bos taurus), and Bison bonasus hybrid

Background Our recent macro- and scanning electron microscopic study of tongue conducted on domesticated cattle, wild living European bison, and Bison bonasus hybrid revealed various spatial arrangement and number of gustatory and mechanical papillae between parental species and their hybrid. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy analysis of gustatory papillae indicated the variable distribution of fungiform papillae (Fu) over the surface of the tongue, which could be significant in differentiated taste perception during feeding in studied wild living and domesticated husbandry ruminants. To specify the detailed microstructure of Fu papillae with connective tissue cores (CTC) and intraepithelial taste buds system, the first time the three-dimensional computer-aided analysis of serial histoslides resulted in the rendering of 3D reconstructions of Fu papillae. Results The comparative analysis of 3D models Fu papillae conducted in six areas of lingual mucosa of each tongue revealed information about, microstructural diversity of Fu papillae in studied ruminants. The estimation of number and density of Fu papillae on tongues, rate of protrusion of papillae over mucosa, and a number of taste buds per papilla allowed to state the ventral surface of the lingual apex and posterolateral surfaces of the lingual torus as regions important in taste perception, as in the preselection of taken food, as well in the analysis of food during rumination, respectively. On the 3D models were observed three structural types of CTC of different distribution on the tongue in studied species. The quantitative data of the number of taste buds on Fu papillae have regional functional differences in the taste system important in feeding and veterinary practice. Moreover, our analysis determined specific features in examined hybrid and showed similarities of some studied features with cattle, i.e., maternal species. Conclusions The 3D reconstruction method used for the first time in the field of study of the lingual papillae and taste buds system can be considered as an innovative and effective tool in assessing of the microstructures of Fu papillae, and it could be suitable for further studies of taste system structures in normal and pathological condition.

Problems of clinical and morphologic diagnosis of orolabial melanosis in children

Pigmented neoplasms of the skin and mucous membranes are a heterogeneous group of benign and malignant neoplasms, some of which are extremely rare in the practice of pediatric oncologist. Orolabial melanosis refers to a benign pigmented pathology of the skin and mucous membranes, requires differential diagnosis with ephelids, melanoma, and when localized on the tongue – with pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue.This article presents a clinical case of orolabial melanosis with localization on the tongue in a 9-year-old child that was not previously described in the domestic literature. The clinical, dermatoscopic, immuno-morphological and differential diagnostic features of this pathology are described in detail.

The Tongue in Three Species of Lemurs: Flower and Nectar Feeding Adaptations

The mobility of the primate tongue allows for the manipulation of food, but, in addition, houses both general sensory afferents and special sensory end organs. Taste buds can be found across the tongue, but the ones found within the fungiform papillae on the anterior two thirds of the tongue are the first gustatory structures to come into contact with food, and are critical in making food ingestion decisions. Comparative studies of both the macro and micro anatomy in primates are sparse and incomplete, yet there is evidence that gustatory adaptation exists in several primate taxa. One is the distally feathered tongues observed in non-destructive nectar feeders, such as Eulemur rubriventer. We compare both the macro and micro anatomy of three lemurid species who died of natural causes in captivity. We included the following two non-destructive nectar feeders: Varecia variegata and Eulemur macaco, and the following destructive flower feeder: Lemur catta. Strepsirrhines and tarsiers are unique among primates, because they possess a sublingua, which is an anatomical structure that is located below the tongue. We include a microanatomical description of both the tongue and sublingua, which were accomplished using hematoxylin–eosin and Masson trichrome stains, and scanning electron microscopy. We found differences in the size, shape, and distribution of fungiform papillae, and differences in the morphology of conical papillae surrounding the circumvallate ones in all three species. Most notably, large distinct papillae were present at the tip of the tongue in nectar-feeding species. In addition, histological images of the ventro-apical portion of the tongue displayed that it houses an encapsulated structure, but only in Lemur catta case such structure presents cartilage inside. The presence of an encapsulated structure, coupled with the shared morphological traits associated with the sublingua and the tongue tip in Varecia variegata and Eulemur macaco, point to possible feeding adaptations that facilitate non-destructive flower feeding in these two lemurids.

Comparative morphology of tongue surface in Neotropical aerial insectivore bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

Comparative morphological characters in Neotropical bats are mostly restricted to external and cranio-dentary complexes, and few studies focusing on other morphological complexes have been carried out. In the case of tongue morphology, comparative analyses of the structure have been restricted to the superfamily Noctilionoidea with a wide range of diets, and Molossidae, a strictly aerial insectivore family. In this paper, we studied the morphology of tongue papillae in 10 aerial insectivore Neotropical bat species, representing six families (Emballonuridae, Furipteridae, Thyropteridae, Mormoopidae, Natalidae, and Vespertilionidae), and data from the previous study of Molossidae were compared. We studied tongues in light and scanning electron microscopes following material preparation protocols. We observed two types of sensitive papillae, circumvallate and fungiform, the latter at times presenting a groove surrounding the papillae. Nine mechanic types were observed, one of them, which we called flaky-like, not hitherto described. All Vespertilionoidea families (Vespertilionidae, Natalidae, and Molossidae) presented, as diagnosing characters, fungiform papillae distributed throughout the tongue, as well as anteriorly at the dorsum, and scale-like papillae on the medial lobe directed laterally and anteriorly. Emballonuridae showed the simplest tongue morphology regarding the presence and abundance of some papillae. Families composing the clade Furipteridae + Thyropteridae + Mormoopidae presented small and non-grooved fungiform papillae, and mechanical bifid papillae were absent. In summary, this study has provided additional traits (putative synapomorphies) of the bat tongue to support the clades on the current bat phylogeny.

The Three-Dimensional Characteristic of Fungiform Papillae and its Taste Buds in European Bison (Bison Bonasus), Cattle (Bos Taurus), and Bison Bonasus Hybrid

Background: Our recent macro- and scanning electron microscopic study of tongue and lingual papillae conducted on domesticated cattle, wild living European bison, and its Bison bonasus hybrid revealed the presence of morphologic differences between parental species and the hybrid. Analysis of gustatory papillae indicated the variable distribution of fungiform papillae (Fu) on the dorsal and ventral surface of the apex and body of the tongue to be important in taste perception during feeding and in the discussion concerning differentiated diet and living environments of studied ruminants. To specify detailed macro-and microstructure of Fu papillae, and its connective tissue cores (CTC) and taste buds, we have chosen for the first time the three-dimensional computer-aided analysis of serial histoslides resulted in the rendering of 3D reconstructions of Fu papillae, which allowed also determine the histomorphometric characteristic of studied papillae. Results and conclusions:For comparative analysis of 3D models of Fu papillae and taste buds were taken from six areas of each tongue provided data about the diversity of Fu papillae in studied ruminants. The calculations of the number and density of Fu papillae of the tongues allowed us to distinguish the ventral surface of the lingual apex and posterolateral surfaces of the lingual torus as two regions important in taste perception, i.e., in the preselection of taken food and analysis of food during rumination, respectively. For the first time were indicated differences in grade of protrusion of Fu papillae over the tongue surface, the presence of three structural types of CTC, and the exact number of taste buds per papilla. The quantitative data of the number of taste buds expanded the knowledge about regional differences of the taste system. Moreover, 3D imaging resulted in the first description of variable patterns of distribution of taste buds over the surface of each Fu papillae. The comparison of obtained results determined new species-specific features in examined hybridand its similarities of some features with cattle, i.e., maternal species. The 3D reconstruction method proved to be an innovative and efficient tool in evaluating microstructures of Fu papillae, and it could be a suitable tool for further studies of gustatory papillae and taste buds in mammals.