1. Structure of Lingual Papillae on
the Tongue of a Young Lion

2. Introduction
• Much work has been published on the
histological structure of the lingual surfaces
• There are many scanning electron microscopic
(SEM) studies of carnivora
• First microscopic study on a young lion
• The purpose is to examine the distribution
pattern and form of the lingual papillae and
compare the results with previous reports
carried out on other carnivora.

3. Background
• The lingual papillae on dorsal lingual surface
of a young lion (Panthera leo) of two months
of age were examined by macroscopic and
light microscopic observations.
• The dimensions of the tongue were about 9
cm in length and 3.5 cm in width
• Three types of papillae, filiform, fungiform and
vallate were observed.

4. Materials and methods
• A tongue sample from a two months old male
lion, which has died due to natural causes
• First macroscopicly examined, then fixed in 100%
formalin
• Tongue sections were dehydrated with a graded
series of alcohol
• Specimens were embedded with paraffin and
sliced into 5-7μ thick sections, then stained with
hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)
• →prepared slices were examined by light
microscope

5. Results
• Three types of papillae were seen in the dorsal
surface of the tongue:
• The filiform papillae were distributed over the
entire dorsal surface. A weak keratinization was observed in
the anterior surface and posterior surface of the filiform papillae
(Fig. 2).
2. The fungiform papillae were distributed among
the filiform papillae on the dorsal surface of
tongue
3. Five vallate papillae were found in the posterior
part of the tongue. Each papilla was surrounded by a groove
(Fig. 1).

6. Figure 1: Diagram of the tongue. A. Anterior Figure 2: Light micrograph of the filiform
part, B: Middle part, papillae in a young lion.
C: Posterior part and root, Pva: Vallate Ep: Epithelium, Lp: lamina propria, An:
papillae, Pfu: Fungiform Anterior part of the filiform
papillae, Pfi: Filiform Papillae, M: Median papillae, Po: Posterior part of the filiform
sulcus. papillae, k: keratinization.

7. Results
• The fungiform papillae were covered with
stratified squamous epithelium
-a few taste buds were located at the top of the epithelium
(fig. 3)
• Two different cell types of fungiform taste
buds were distinguished
-light-stained cells (Epitheliocytus sensorius gustatorius) and
dark-stained cells (Epitheliocytus sustentans) (fig. 4)

8. Figure 3: Light micrograph of the Figure 4: Light micrograph of taste buds
fungiform papilla. Ep: Epithelium, in the fungiform papillae.
Lp: Lamina propria, t: Taste buds, tp: t: Taste buds, arrow: Taste pore, a: light-
Taste pore stained cell, d: dark-stained cell.

9. Conclusion
• The anatomical and histological findings of
this study do not appear to represent the
typical structure of lingual papilla of the lions
-Possible reasons: 1. Only one animal
was examined 2. The age of this animal,
which was still in its developing and growing
period

10. Conclusion
• study reveals the localization, structure and
distribution of lingual papillae in a young lion
in macroscopic and light microscopic level
• findings of present study will contribute to
knowledge in the area of study.

11. References
“Macroscopic and Light Microscopic Structure of
Lingual Papillae on the Tongue of a Young Lion
(Panthera Leo)”
Toprak, B. and Ulusoy, Y.
Etlik Central Veterinary Control and Research
Institute, 06020 Ankara, Turkey