THE PERINATAL MORPHOGENESIS OF SELECTED LINGUAL PAPILLAE IN THE DOMESTIC CAT OBSERVED BY SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY

The morphogenesis of circumvallate, fungiform and filiform papillae of the tongue was studied in feline foetuses at 48 days and in kittens a day after birth. Attention was paid to the keratinization of mucosal epithelium on the dorsum linguae and to the distribution and developme nt of taste pores of circumvallate and fungiform papillae. The circumv allate and fungiform papillae were differentiated earlier than the fil iform papillae. The keratinization of epithelium was most marked on th e rostral surfaces of filiform papilla anlages. Taste buds were most o ften found at the border of the dorsal surface with the papillary wall in circumvallate papillae and in the midregion of the dorsal surface in fungiform papillae. The taste buds of circumvallate and fungiform p apillae showed an identical appearance.