Age related alteration s of gustatory y papillae in Armant dogs : histo logical, quantitati ve and scanning electron microscopic studies

Abstract EN

Objective: The present work was designed to provide basic data for studies of the impact of aging on the histological and ultra structural characteristics of gustatory papillae in Armant dogs.

Design: Eighteen Armant dogs were used, divided according to age, into three groups six dogs each.

Group I (6 months old) considered as young age, Group II (5- 7 years) considered as adult, and Group III (aged 10-12 years) considered as old aged group.

We used both light and scanning electron microscopy to clarify the histological and ultrastructural changes that occur in the tongue papillae in the three age groups Circumvallate and fungiform papillae were examined; the taste buds in each type of papillae were counted.

Results: The histological and ultrastructural results revealed a regression in size of both circumvallate and fungiform papillae by age.

Quantitative study of the taste buds number revealed that the highest number was present in the circumvallate papillae of group II(adult), higher than their number in both groups I (young)(p<.001), and group III (old) (p< .001).

Conclusion: There are age related morphological changes in both circumvallate and fungiform papillae in Armant dogs.

The decrease in taste buds with advancing age was also clarified.

The changes observed in the present study may be related to a decline in taste sensitivity with aging.