Fine structure of the dorsal lingual epithelium of the domestic, newborn kitten, Felis catus.
The tip and the body of the tongue of the domestic kitten, Felis catus, were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. On the tip of the tongue, no filiform papillae were observed, but the connective tissue papillae of the lamina propria were recognized. On the lingual body, there were filiform papillae composed of an anterior, a posterior and interpapillar epithelium. Under the transmission electron microscope, the epithelium on the tip of the kitten tongue was found to be of the stratified squamous type. The epithelium contained no cells filled with keratin fibers. In the lingual body, the interpapillar epithelium contained very few keratohyalin granules, and no cells with keratin fibers. In the epithelium on the anterior side of the filiform papillae, numerous keratohyalin granules appeared in the intermediate layer. In the surface layer, a thin layer of typical keratinized cells was visible. In the epithelium on the posterior side of the filiform papillae, a thick layer of keratinized cells was located on the surface layer.
Iwasaki
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Department of Anatomy, School of Dentistry Nippon Dental University Niigata, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002415:Cats; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014059:Tongue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*