A proposed function for microridges on epithelial cells

Sperry, David G.; Wassersug, Richard J.

doi:10.1002/ar.1091850212

Cited by 149 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The microridges may protect the surface of the tongue from an abrasive contact with the anterior teeth or the substrate during tongue flicking or substrate licking [51]. However, these microstructures serve to hold in place a residual layer of mucus, which acts as a lubricant and facilitate movement of material over a cell surface [52][53][54].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrastructural Studies on the Tongue of Some Egyptian Lizards 1-Scincine Lizards Chalcides Oscellatus and Chalcides Sepsoides (Lacertilia, Scincidae)

Sarhan¹

2013

J Cytol Histol

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Tongues of Egyptian lizards Chalcides ocellatus and Chalcides sepsoides are investigated under scanning and transmission electron microscope. Their tongues are divided into tip, anterior, middle and posterior regions.In C. ocellatus, the tip region is bifurcated and protected with strong, non-papillosed, keratinized epithelium. The lingual papillae are separating with wide trenches except in the middle region. Papillae of the anterior and posterior regions have serrated and imbricated ends oriented in the posterior direction. The surface epithelia is studded by tiny or reticular microvilli. Ultra-sections show that the imbricated portions have goblet cells rich in numerous secretory granules. The lamina propria of each papilla is provided with striated muscle fibers. The distribution and orientation of the lingual muscle fibers prove that the tongue is adapted for snipping, masticate and swallowing their praise.In C. sepsoides tongue, the tip region is slightly bifurcated. All lingual papillae have different shapes with narrow moats separating between them. Those of the anterior and posterior regions have free ends overlapped towards the anterior or posterior directions, respectively, while that of the middle region is not imbricated. The surface epithelia of the tongue has dispersed or aggregated microvilli.In the tongue of the C. sepsoides, new structures are described for the first time. At its ventral aspect, there is an accessory lingual muscle formed of numerous muscle fibers orient to the vertical, transverse or longitudinal directions. These orientations prove that the tongue is able to mash and suck the prey's sherbets. At the end of the posterior region, there is a ciliated concave depression hosting a laryngotracheal organ, which has T-shaped crevice precedent by large fleshy highly ciliated lip supported by inflexible folds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrastructural Studies on the Tongue of Some Egyptian Lizards 1-Scincine Lizards Chalcides Oscellatus and Chalcides Sepsoides (Lacertilia, Scincidae)

Sarhan¹

2013

J Cytol Histol

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“…Although the dorsal epithelium of amphibians also contains many cells with secretory granules (ZYLBERBERG, 1977;IWASAKI and WANICHANON, 1991), their surface is covered with microridges (IwASAKI and KOBAYASHI, 1988). As pointed out by SPERRY and WASSERSUG (1976), microridges may play a role in the retention and spreading of mucus on the epithelial cell sueface. Microvilli on the surface of the oral epithelial cells are thought to have a function similar to microridges.…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%

Fine Structure of the Dorsal Epithelium of the Tongue of the Japanese Terrapin, Clemmys japonica (Cheloia, Emydinae).

Iwasaki

Asami

et al. 1992

Archives of Histology and Cytology

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Summary. As reptiles are situated phylogenetically between the amphibians and the mammals, they exhibit considerable variation in the structure of their tongues. The present study, one of a series of studies on reptile tongues, aims to demonstrate the three-dimensional structure of the dorsal lingual surface of a turtle, the Japanese terrapin Clemmys japonica, and to clarify the ultrastructural features of the lingual epithelial cells. In the study lingual papillae were observed by scanning electron microscopy to be widely distributed over the dorsal surface of the tongue. Irregularly shaped (conical, columnar or angular) papillae were located in the anterior and central areas, and ridge-like ones, in the latero-posterior area. Histological examination revealed that the connective tissue penetrated into the core of the papillae, and the epithelium was of a stratified squamous and/or cuboidal type. Under the transmission electron microscope, two types of cells were identified in the intermediate layer of the apical epithelium of the lingual papilla: one type was probably an immature mucous cell, whereas the other was elongated in a baso-apical direction, its cytoplasm containing fine granules. In the surface layer of the apical epithelium, typical mucous cells and cells containing numerous, fine, electron-lucent granules were recognized. Both types of cells possessed microvilli on their free-surfaces. In the lateral epithelium of the lingual papillae, the cytological features from the basal layer to the superficial intermediate layer were essentially the same as in the apical epithelium. However, in the surface layer, mucous cells were significantly larger in number than in the apical epithelium.In mammals, the tongue functions mainly for feeding (THEXTON, 1980) and for lapping (HIIEMAE et al., 1981). In some mammals, it also functions for the brushing of body hair. The relatively strong keratinization, especially of the dorsal epithelium, is associated with the performance of these functions. The keratinized epithelium forms compactly distributed fine processes or filiform papillae (FARBMAN, 1966(FARBMAN, , 1970CANE and SPEARMAN, 1969; HUME and POTTEN, 1976;BOSHELL et al., 1982;STEFLIK et al., 1983; MACKENZIE and BICKENBACH, 1984;IWASAKI andMIYATA, 1989, 1990; IWASAKI,1990a). In mammals, the tongue plays only a small part in the secretion of salivary fluid, as the major salivary glands develop to assume this purpose. By contrast, in amphibians, the tongue plays a very important role in the secretion of salivary fluid into the oral cavity, as well as in feeding (ZYLBERBERG, 1977; IWASAKI and WANICHANON,1991).Reptiles are situated phylogenetically between the amphibians and the mammals. There have been many macroscopic and light-microscopic studies on the tongues of reptiles (GNANAMUTHU, 1937;GOIN and GOIN, 1962;SMITH, 1984 SMITH, , 1986 SMITH, , 1988SCHWENK, 1986). The results of such studies have demonstrated considerable variation in the morphology and histology of the reptilial tongue. However, very few rep...

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“…The development of mentioned microridges in the present gecko is less pronounced than in Takydromus tachdromoides [15]. Microridges may play a role in the retention and spread of mucus on the epithelial cell surfaces so their function is as a supporting structure for food mastication and swallowing [46]. Microvilli on the surface of the oral epithelial cells are thought to have almost the same function as microridges.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Fine structure of the dorsal lingual epithelium in Tarentola annularis and Crocodylus niloticus

El-Bakry

Hamdi²

2016

Folia Morphol

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A proposed function for microridges on epithelial cells

Cited by 149 publications

References 16 publications

Ultrastructural Studies on the Tongue of Some Egyptian Lizards 1-Scincine Lizards Chalcides Oscellatus and Chalcides Sepsoides (Lacertilia, Scincidae)

Ultrastructural Studies on the Tongue of Some Egyptian Lizards 1-Scincine Lizards Chalcides Oscellatus and Chalcides Sepsoides (Lacertilia, Scincidae)

Fine Structure of the Dorsal Epithelium of the Tongue of the Japanese Terrapin, Clemmys japonica (Cheloia, Emydinae).

Fine structure of the dorsal lingual epithelium in Tarentola annularis and Crocodylus niloticus

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