SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY OF THE WILD BOAR AND PIG LINGUAL PAPILLAE

Lingual papillae of wild boar and pig were studied by means of scannin g electron microscopy (SEM). Vallate papillae appear with the typical circumvallate morphology. Their papillary bodies show conical or fungi form-like and spicule-like pseudopapillae in both animals. Taste pores were seen in the papillary grooves. Microplicae or pits are visible a t high magnification. In pig and wild boar similar foliate papillae we re observed. Pig has less but wider leaves than wild boar. Taste pores on papillary walls were viewed. At high magnification microplicae wer e seen. Morphologically, fungiform papillae correspond with their deno mination. Taste pores open onto the upper surface and they are easily identifiable by SEM. The rostral and lateral regions contain the major number of fungiform papillae. The lateral papillae of wild boar and p ig show a high number of pores per papilla. These regions must be cons idered important in taste sensitivity. Lateral papillae in both animal s could provide a source of taste buds for study. In both animals the fungiform papillary epithelium showed a pitted appearance as a consequ ence of keratinization by food environmental stress. The filiform papi llae can be both simple and compound (with body and hairs). Large coni cal papillae are located caudally and curved in the same direction. Fi liform and conical papillae have a function in food mastication, handl ing and deglutition.