Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of the Basal Surface of the Rat Lingual Papillae

Tetsuro Saito, Takeshi Hamada and Takao Inoué*

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and *Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683, Japan

The basal surface of the rat lingual papillae was studied by scanning electron micros-copy after the epithelium was detached from the underlying connective tissues by strong alkali digestion. Many round depressions, corresponding to the basal openings of fili-form and fungiform papillae, were visible on the underside of the epithelium. The depressions were structures which housed the connective tissue papillae. In contrast, foliate and circumvaffate papillae formed protrusions projecting towands subepithelial tissues. The foliate and circumvallate papillae formed fusiform and horseshoe-shaped protrusions, respectively. These papillae contained the Ebner's gland duct. On the interpapillar region, nerve fibers and their free endings were demonstrated in three dimensions. The shape suggested that the endings may be a sensory receptors of some type.

Key words: basal epithelial surface; papillae; scanning electron microscopy; tongue

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