Skip to main content
Log in

Epithelial differentiation and taste buds in the soft palate of the monkey, Macaca irus

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A combination of light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy was employed to demonstrate the occurrence, arrangement and structure of taste buds in the oral mucosa of the soft palate of monkeys (Macaca irus). Taste buds are found in aggregates confined to 0.15 to 0.3 mm wide, round islands of keratinizing epithelium embedded in the normally non-keratinizing integument. Topography, configuration and structure of these epithelial islands and their taste buds are described, and the question of a developmental and functional interrelationship between epithelial differentiation and properties, and taste bud function is discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Mit einer Kombination licht- und elektronenmikroskopischer Untersuchungstechniken wurde das Auftreten, die Anordnung und die Struktur von Geschmacksknospen in der oralen Mukosa des weichen Gaumens von Macaca irus untersucht. Geschmacksknospen treten in Gruppen auf; sie finden sich ausschließlich innerhalb von 0.15 bis 0.3mm großen, runden Inseln keratinisierenden Epithels, die in das normalerweise nichtkeratinisierende Epithel eingebettet sind. Die Topographie, Konfiguration und Struktur dieser epithelialen Inseln und ihrer Geschmacksknospen wird beschrieben. Die Frage einer entwicklungsgeschichtlichen und funktionellen Beziehung zwischen dem Differenzierungsmuster und den Eigenschaften des Epithels und der Funktion der Geschmacksknospen wird diskutiert.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, T.F.: Techniques for the preservation of three-dimensional structure in preparing specimens for the electron microscope. Trans. New York Acad. Sci. 13, 130–134 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bargmann, W.: Histologie und mikroskopische Anatomie des Menschen, 7. ed., p. 372. Stuttgart: G. Thieme 1977

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleaton-Jones, P.: Normal histology of the human soft palate. J. Biol. Buccale 3, 265–276 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleaton-Jones, P.: A denervation study of taste buds in the soft palate of the albino rat. Arch. Oral Biol. 21, 79–82 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebner, V. v.: Von den Geschmacksknospen. In: Handbuch der Gewebelehre des Menschen, 6. ed., Vol. 3 (A. Kölliker, ed.), pp. 18–31. Leipzig: W. Engelmann 1902

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraska, J.M., Parks, V.R.: A routine technique for double-staining ultrathin sections using uranyl and lead salts. J. Cell Biol. 25, 157–161 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gairns, F.W.: The sensory nerve endings of the human palate. Quart. J. Exp. Physiol. 40, 40–48 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, H.: The soft palate. In: Gray's anatomy, 35. ed. (R. Warwick and P.C. Williams, eds.), p. 1207. London: Longman 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann, A.: Über die Verbreitung der Geschmacksknospen beim Menschen. Virchow's Arch. Path. Anat. Physiol. 62, 516–530 (1875)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplick, M.: Über Vorkommen, Verteilung und histologische Beziehungen der Geschmacksknospen am Munddach einiger Säuger, besonders der Nagetiere. Z. Zellforsch. 38, 571–590 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Karnovsky, M.J.: A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolality for use in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 27, 137A-138A (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, P.B., Weilenmann, W.A., Schroeder, H.E.: Structure and oral mucous membrane composition of the soft palate in monkeys, in preparation

  • Kolmer, W.: Geschmacksorgan. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen. Vol. III/I (W. v. Möllendorff, ed.), pp. 154–191. Berlin: Springer 1927

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, W.: Allgemeine und mikroskopische Anatomie. Vol. 1, p. 187. Hannover: Hahn'sche Hofbuchhandlung 1876

    Google Scholar 

  • Landay, M.A., Schroeder, H.E.: Quantitative electron microscopic analysis of the stratified epithelium of normal human buccal mucosa. Cell Tiss. Res. 177, 383–405 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Landay, M.A., Schroeder, H.E.: Differentiation in normal human buccal epithelium. J. Anat., in press (1978)

  • Märk, W.: Besonderheiten im Vorkommen von Flimmerepithel, Drüsen- und Geschmacksknospen in der menschlichen Mundhöhle. Z. Mikrosk. Anat. Forsch. 49, 82–107 (1940)

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, M., Schroeder, H.E.: A quantitative electron microscopic analysis of the keratinizing epithelium of normal human hard palate. Cell Tiss. Res. 158, 177–203 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, G.R., Murray, A., Fujimoto, S.: Fine structure of gustatory cells in rabbit taste buds. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 27, 444–461 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponzo, M.: Sulla presenza di organi del gusto nella parte laringea delle faringe, nel tratto cervicale dell' esofago e nel palato duro del feto umano. Anat. Anz. 31, 570–575 (1907)

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, E.S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Romanes, G.J.: The skin and the sensory organs. In: Cunningham's Textbook of anatomy. 11. ed., pp. 834–836. London: Oxford University Press 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaffer, J.: Beiträge zur Histologie menschlicher Organe. IV. Zunge. V. Mundhöhle, Schlundkopf. VI. Oesophagus. VII. Cardia. Sitzungsber. Akad. Wiss. Wien Math.-Naturw. Kl. Abt. III, 106, 353–455 (1897)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroeder, H. E.: Transmigration and infiltration of leukocytes in human junctional epithelium. Helv. Odont. Acta 17, 6–18 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumacher, S.: Der weiche Gaumen und das Zäpfchen. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen. Vol. V (W. v. Möllendorff, ed.), pp. 26–34. Berlin: Springer 1927

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, P.J., Kraus, B.S.: Prenatal development of the human palate. Some histological observations. Arch. Oral. Biol. 7, 137–150 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zalewski, A.A.: Regeneration of taste buds after reinnervation by peripheral or central sensory fibres of vagal ganglia. Exp. Neurol. 25, 429–437 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Klein, P.B., Schroeder, H.E. Epithelial differentiation and taste buds in the soft palate of the monkey, Macaca irus . Cell Tissue Res. 196, 181–188 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236359

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236359

Key words

Navigation