Investigations on the Light and Scanning Electron Microscopic Structure of Tongue Papillae of Morkaraman Sheep: Taste and Mechanical

In this study, the structure of the papillae in the tongue of Morkaraman sheep was investigated by light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The aim of this study was to investigate the morphology and topographic distribution of the lingual papillae of the tongues of Morkaraman sheep breed. Adult male Morkaraman sheep tongues were used in the study. Tongue samples for light and scanning electron microscopy were taken from the apex, corpus, radix and torus lingua regions of the upper surface of the tongue and the lower surface of the tongue tip. Two types of taste papillae, papillae fungiformis and vallata, were observed on the tongue. Papillae fungiformis were found under the tip of the tongue, on the upper surface and sides of the tip and body of the tongue and on torus lingua. Papillae vallata were observed on both posterior sides of the torus lingua of the tongue. SEM examination showed that the surface of the papillae was smooth and there were no taste pores opening to the surface. On LM examination, filiform papillae at the lingual apex were common in materials. These papillae had secondary keratin extensions on the main body. The light and scanning electron microscopic structures of the taste papillae on the tongue of Morkaraman sheep were examined and their similarities and differences with other ruminant species were determined.