A Microscopic Study of lingual Papillae in Iranian Buffalo (Bubalus bubalus)

The morphology of lingual papillae of 10 healthy young adult Iranian buffaloes was studied by using light microscopy. It could be divided into three areas: the lingual apex, lingual body and lingual root. Filiform, conical, fungiform and lenticular papillae were considered as mechanical papillae but circumvallate papillae were considered as gustatory papillae. No foliate papillae were seen on the dorsal surface. Filiform papillae were distributed over the entire dorsal surface of the tongue, with the filiform papillae on torus linguae shaped as caudally directed pointed spines or conical shape. The convex surfaced fungiform papillae were raised above the lingual mucosa. The conical papillae are blunt pointed cone shape. Lenticular papillae were distributed on the torus linguae. The oval shape circumvallate papillae were located on the lateral and caudal part of torus linguae. A few taste buds were observed in the lateral epithelium of the papillae. The lingual papillae of the Iranian buffalo (Bubalus bubalus) exhibited some characteristics different from those of domestic ruminants.

Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 5: 154-161.