On the senile changes of histological constituents on the tongue of senescence accelerated mouse-prone/2

Abstract

In order to clarify the alteration of percent distribution of histological constituents of the tongue upon the aging process, a study was made on the tongues from senescence accelerated mouse-prone/2 (SAM-P/2). Senescence accelarated mouse-resistant/2 (SAM-R/2), and ddY strain mice were used as control material. The tissues from three sites of each tongue were examined under light microscopy and the distributions of tissue constituents were determined using a point counting method.

No remarkable difference in comparisons between SAM-P/2 and the control materials upon aging process was revealed. The percent distribution of the muscular constiuent was the greatest in all the sites of every age group. And that of the fibrous constituent was higher in all three sites of the two-months of age groups, but especially in the anterior sites, that was the highest and varied widely from case to case. A little adipose tissue could be found in the posterior site of all mice strains, whereas none or only very little adipose tissue was noted in the anterior and middle sites. The authors conclude that the main senile alteration of the histological constituent on the tongue of the mouse is in that of muscular and fibrous constituents, and no alteration of the adipose constituent is noted in the tongue related to aging.