Histogenesis of circumvallate papillae of buffalo during prenatal life

Abstract

The present study was conducted on the tongues of 36 buffalo foetii with CVR length from 1.2 cm to 99.5 cm (age ranging from 34 – 298 days) divided into group 1: foetii between 0–20 cm CVR, group 2: foetii between 20–40 cm CVR and group 3: foetii above 40 cm CVR. The tissues were fixed in neutral buffered formalin and processed. The paraffin sections of 5–6 μm were cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson’s trichrome. In the present study, first indication of formation of circumvallate papillae was observed at 10.7 cm CVR length (77 days) lined by dark layered basal cells and 2–3 layers of superficial cells. In group 2, at 21.4 cm CVR length (122 days) the two stacks of papillae invaginated deep into the tongue mesenchyme to form serous acini. The connective tissue core at the same age was highly vascularized and large number of nerve fibers could be observed penetrating into the core. The primitive taste bud appeared on the apical surface of circumvallate papillae at 45.0 cm CVR length (175 days). The taste pore became apparent at 80.0 cm CVR length (254 days).