Prenatal development of the tongue and its papillae in the one-humped camel (cameleus dromedaries)‎

الملخص EN

Tongues from 18 camel fetuses of different CVRL were divided into three groups, which were used for gross morphology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Grossly, the most rostral part of the apex of the tongue was narrow and marked by small constriction from the body in the first group.

The tongue had the same width except the root which was slightly narrows than the rest of the tongue in the second group.

Then, the tongue became longer and thicker, with clearly differentiated torus linguae and lingual papillae in the third group. SEM revealed that in the first group the apex of the tongue was free from filiform papillae.

Few fungiform papillae were started to appear on the lateral borders of the tongue.

Flattened circumvallate papillae laterally and small rounded to elongated quadrilateral lenticular papillae medially begin their first indication on the torus linguae. Coniform papillae started to appear as small dome-shaped projections at the root of the tongue. In the second group, the lateral parts of the apex and the rostral part of the body showed numerous short filiform papillae.

Few fungiform papillae were sporadically scattered near the lateral borders of the apex and the body.

On the dorsal part of the torus linguae both lenticular and circumvallate papillae were easily demonstrated. Circumvallate papillae started to arrange themselves laterally in the form of one row on each side.

The lentiform papillae appeared covering the whole torus linguae except an area occupied by the circumvallate papillae.

Coniform papillae had increased in size and became elongated in shape. In the third group, filiform papillae were numerous on the rostral part of the body and apex.

lentiform papillae became larger in size with caudally directed pointed ends.

They were arranged in 3-4 rows lateral to the circumvallate papillae and several rows in the paramedian zone.

Fungiform papillae were increased in size but remained similar to those of the second group in the general apperance.

Circumvallate papillae were about 5 to 6 on each side of the torus linguae.

They were circular to oval in shape and surrounded by completely formed papillary grooves.

Taste pores were easily demonstrated on the surface of the papillary bodies of the circumvallate papillae only. The existence of large number of lenticular papillae in camels can be reflecting the feeding habits of thorny hard material by this animal. Also existence of large number of well developed circumvallate papillae may substitute the absence of foliate papillae in this species.