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

There are variations in the tongue papillae among species, including the size, number and type of papillae. There have been no studies describing the detailed tongue morphology of Javan mongoose (Herpestes javanicus). Therefore, we analysed the tongue and lingual structures of Javan mongoose (H. javanicus), using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. The tongue was covered by papillae and rough in appearance. We divided the tongue into three regions: the apex, corpus and radix of the tongue. The medioventral section of the tongue was characterized by the presence of a frenulum. We identified four types of papillae: filiform, fungiform, conical and vallate papillae. There were two subtypes of filiform papillae: leaf-like and conical. Both were seen on the apex, although leaf-like filiform papillae also extended to the corpus. Fungiform papillae had taste buds on their dorsal surfaces and were observed from the apex to the radix. Vallate papillae, three in numbers only occurred on the radix. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining showed minor lingual glands on the textus muscularis striatus syncytialis of the corpus and lateral radix, which we identified as Weber glands; we also observed von Ebner glands on this layer of the tongue. These anatomical features of the Javan mongoose tongue are broadly similar to those seen in other carnivores, with some specific differences, such as the number of vallate papillae.

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

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: brush-like 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.

Morphological characterization of Horsfield's treeshrew Tupaia javanica lingual papillae: Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy studies.

The Horsfield's treeshrew (Tupaia javanica) is one of the shrews found on the island of Java that mainly feeds on fruits and occasionally insects. This shrew has an important role in the ecosystem as it spreads plant seeds and controls insects. To this day, there is no available knowledge about the structure of Horsfield's treeshrew's tongue. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide data on the tongue structure of the Horsfield's treeshrew through two different methods. We investigated the tongue morphology and lingual papillae distribution of Tupaia javanica using 1) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for microscopic structure and 2) histology for microscopic organization. Our macroscopic results revealed that the tongue of Tupaia javanica can be divided into three parts: apex, corpus and radix. The dorsal surface of the medial corpus is the median groove extending to the radix. Observation using SEM and light microscopy (LM) showed that the apex of the tongue bears three types of papillae: scale-like filiform, small filiform and fungiform. These are rosette filiform papillae, cornflower filiform papillae, conical papillae and fungiform papillae in the corpus. Meanwhile, the radix contains small filiform papillae, scale-like filiform papillae, vallate papillae, conical papillae and fungiform papillae. On the lateral posterior radix, Weber's gland reacts positively to PAS reaction. Taking together, our research shows that there are variations in the papillae on the tongue surface of Horsfield's treeshrew, and the variations of these papillae are very dependent on the pattern, type of food and the function of the tongue.