Scanning Electron Microscopic Observations of the Dorsal Tongue Surface in the Japanese House Bat, Pipistrellus abramus

Abstract

Scanning electron microscopical observations were performed to investigate the ultrastructure of the lingual papillae and the real surface of the dorsal tongue epithelial cells in the Japanese house bat, Pipistrellus abramus. Filiform papillae were distributed over the entire surface of the tongue except for the narrow radix zone. Some different types of filiform papillae were distributed in restricted areas of the dorsal surface. Fungif orm papillae were scattered among these filiform papillae. Higher magnification of the dorsal tongue epithelium revealed that prominent microridges and distinctive elevation of the cell border occurred widely in the basal area of the filiform papillae, interpapillar area and radix area. On the epithelial surface of the upper part of filiform papillae, only fine pits (micropits) were found.