Morphological Study by Scanning Electron Microscopy of the Lingual Papillae in the Middle East Blind Mole Rat (Spalax ehrenbergi, Nehring, 1898)

Abstract

There is no definite information about the tongue morphology of blind mole rats owing to spreading of these animals to only a certain habitat. For this reason, we aimed to examine the morphological structure of the tongue by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in this species. In this study, the tongues of four blind mole rats were used and the morphology of its lingual surface, different types of papillae, their characteristics and topographical distribution was described. Three types of papillae (filiform, fungiform and vallate) and lingual prominence were observed. The dorsal surface of the tongue was covered by filiform papilla; and filiform papillae demonstrated the most numerous type of lingual papilla. Fungiform papillae were rounded in shape and randomly distributed particularly on the anterior and medial region. In addition, each fairly convex fungiform papilla was surrounded by a continuous circular pad like a crown. The two oval vallate papillae were situated symmetrically on the posterior region and obliquely to the median line of the tongue. The body of vallate papillae was surrounded by a continuous trench and mucosal folds. The lingual prominence between medial and posterior region and a transversal groove just in front of it were observed. Furthermore, a limited tuber and root based diet and gnawing have together resulted in similarity of the tongue of the rodent, giving it some characteristics typical of a herbivore and an insectivore.

Características das papilas o dorso da língua de cabras (Capra hircus): estudo por de microscopia eletrônica de varredura e luz

“…As papilas ϐiliformes, que possuem função mecânica, foram identiϐicadas amplamente distribuídas no ápice e no corpo da língua, assim como descrito para uma variedade de espécies de ruminantes e não ruminantes como o bicho preguiça (Benetti et al 2009), roedores (Kilinc et al 2010) e panda gigante (Pastor et al 2008). O formato cônico, com a extremidade direcionada caudalmente, representa o padrão morfológico desse tipo de papila.…”

“…A estrutura e distribuição das papilas linguais se constituem em importantes aspectos no estudo morfológico da língua das espécies animais (Kilinc et al 2010). Estudos histológicos e ultraestruturais da mucosa da língua de mamíferos têm demonstrado que a morfologia do epitélio lingual varia entre as espécies, apresentando vários tipos de papilas (Benetti et al 2009).…”

“…Estudos histológicos e ultraestruturais da mucosa da língua de mamíferos têm demonstrado que a morfologia do epitélio lingual varia entre as espécies, apresentando vários tipos de papilas (Benetti et al 2009). Além da espécie, essas variações estão relacionadas com o tipo de alimentação e a adaptação do animal às condições ambientais, entre outros (Kilinc et al 2010). Fatores como a mecânica da mastigação e a forma de passagem do alimento aos segmentos posteriores do trato digestório também afetam a estrutura do epitélio lingual.…”

Morphological Comparison of the Filiform Papillae of New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as Domestic Mammals and Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) as Wild Mammals Using Scanning Electron Microscopic Specimens

“…Different morphological structures of the vertebrates tongue are specialized to fulfill different functions, such as swallowing, water uptake, capturing and manipulating the food, grooming, vocal modulation, and suckling (Pastor et al, 2011;Kilinc et al, 2010;Mancanares et al, 2012). Morphological differences and variations appearing in the tongue are directly associated with dietary specializations and food type, as well as adaptations to various environmental conditions (Iwasaki).…”

Morphology of the lingual papillae of Egyptian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

“…Several studies of lingual papillae in various mammalian species including one-humped camel (El Sharaby et al, 2012), blind mole rat (Kilinc et al, 2010), and maned sloth (Benetti et al, 2009) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been performed in the last 5 years.…”