title: The relation of keratinization to bacterial colonization on the baboon tongue as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy.
abstract: Scanning electron microscopic observations of the baboon tongue demonstrating specificity of microbial distribution as related to epithelial keratinization are presented. The number of bacteria inhabiting a surface was related to the degree of keratinization. Orthokeratotic dorsal tongue surfaces were most heavily colonized by bacteria. The parakeratotic and non-keratinized surfaces were less heavily populated, with non-keratinized areas showing the fewest numbers of bacteria.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010215:Papio; D014059:Tongue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D007633:Keratins