The occurrence of ciliated and mucous cells in the peripapillary trench of the rat tongue.
Ciliated cells surrounded by mucous cells were found near the base of the peripapillary trench of the rat circumvallate papilla. The ciliated cells occurred singly or in small groups. Each cilium showed the nin plus two filament pattern characteristic of motile cilia. We consider that these cells function in wetting the taste pores, circulating saliva containing tastants and removal of debris from the papillary trench.
D000818:Animals; D002923:Cilia; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D014059:Tongue / Q000166:cytology*