FUNGIFORM PAPILLAE OF THE PIG AND THE WILD BOAR ANALYZED BY SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY

Fungiform papillae of wild boar and pig were studied by scanning elect ron microscopy (SEM). Four regions were defined on the tongue: rostral , medial and caudal thirds and lateral sides. Morphologically the fung iform papillae correspond with their denomination. Rostral and lateral tongue regions presented the largest average number of fungiform papi llae. Taste pores opened onto the upper surface of the papillae and we re easily identifiable by SEM. The total number of fungiform taste por es from both animals was the highest reported in the literature. The l ateral papillae of wild boar and pig contained the largest average num ber of pores per papilla. This region must be important in taste sensi tivity. Lateral and rostral papillae from both animals can provide a s ource of taste buds for study since each fungiform papilla presents nu merous taste buds and these papillae are very abundant.