title: In vivo observation of papillae of the human tongue using confocal laser scanning microscopy.
abstract: The aim of this investigation was to visualize the epithelial structures of the tongue using confocal laser scanning microscopy (LSM). The human tongue epithelium of 28 healthy subjects, aged 21-67 years, mean age 38 years, 14 women and 14 men, was examined in vivo by LSM. Using LSM, a combination of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph HRT II and the Rostock Cornea Module, up to 800-fold magnifications were obtained. On the tongue surface both filiform and fungiform papillae and their taste pores were easily identified. The epithelium of the tongue with its subcellular structures could be observed up to a depth of 50 microm, cellular structures up to 150 microm and subepithelial vessels up to 300 microm. Additionally the papillary crests and blood flow were visible. Confocal LSM seems suitable for noninvasive in vivo examination of the tongue. The hydraulic z scan, the manual start setting and the measurement of the depth allow a clear classification of the observed structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany. tino.just@med.uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: Tino
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Just
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stave
authors.forename: Hans Wilhelm
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Pau
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guthoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002196:Capillaries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005110:Extracellular Space; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015388:Organelles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014059:Tongue / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014743:Videotape Recording