2003 Volume 79 Issue 6 Pages 195-199
Detailed observation of the structure of filiform papillae (FP) and microvasculature of those papillae in Japanese Azuma mole were described. In the anterior and medial regions, FP was cylinder in shape with two processes. In the posterior region, it had a long, sharp conical shape. The microvascular casts showed two types of hairpin-shaped capillary loops on three regions of the tongue. In the anterior and medial regions, the end of the capillary loops were shaped like a spoon. In contrast, in the posterior region, it was knot-like end of capillary loop. Since the shape of capillary loop was more complex in the anterior and medial regions than that in the posterior region, it was speculated that the spoon-like end of capillary loops of the FP in the anterior and medial regions supply nutrients to the filiform papillary cells and may be related to the movement of the tongue during mastication in Japanese Azuma mole.
