| Popis: |
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. |
