Authors : Ebru Karadag Sari, Melek Kocak Harem and Ismail Sah Harem
Abstract: Reared for milk and meat production, the Zavot cattle breed, which is grazed on grassland in summer and fed on fodder in winter, is a cattle breed native to the East Anatolian region of Turkey. The objective of the study was to investigate the localization and histological features of the lingual papillae on the dorsal surface of the Zavot cattle tongue by light and scanning electron microscopy and to compare the findings with those of related ruminants. Tissue samples were harvested from the apex, body and root of the tongues and were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Histologically, there were five types of papillae on the dorsal surface of the tongue, namely filiform, fungiform, circumvallate, lenticular and conical papillae. Filiform papillae had different structure on the apex and body of the tongue. On the body of the tongue each main papilla was accompanied by 1-3 secondary papillae. However, there was not any secondary papilla on the main papilla at the apex of the tongue. The taste pores were seen at the free surface of the fungiform papillae. Round to oval in shape circumvallate papillae were arranged twine and irregularly in two lines at the caudo-lateral region of the torus linguae. Lenticular papillae which were round or conical-like shape limited on the torus linguae. Conical papillae were distributed mainly on the lingual root. Tips of the conical papillae were covered with a thick layer of keratin. Variety of the distribution and morphological and histological charecteristics of the lingual papillae in Zavot cattle related to be kind of diet and feeding habits.
Ebru Karadag Sari, Melek Kocak Harem and Ismail Sah Harem, 2010. Characteristics of Dorsal Lingual Papillae of Zavot Cattle. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 9: 123-130.