Taste buds on the anterior part of the tongue develop in conjunction with epithelial-mesenchymal specializations in the form of gustatory (taste) papillae. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP4) are expressed in developing taste papillae, but the roles of these signaling molecules in specification of taste bud progenitors and in papillary morphogenesis are unclear. We show...

Gustatory papillae are complex organs that are composed of 1) an epithelium, 2) specialized sensory cells within the epithelium (the taste buds), 3) a broad connective core, and 4) sensory innervation. During papilla development, cells in the various tissue compartments must divide, aggregate, detach, migrate, and reaggregate in relation to each other, but factors that regulate such steps are p...

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) signaling modulates sweet-taste sensitivity in the mouse. Because circumvallate papillae (CVPs) express both GLP-1 and its receptor, a local regulation has been suggested. However, whether dietary lipids are involved in this regulation, as shown in the gut, is unknown. By using a combination of biochemical, immunohistochemical, and behavioral approaches, the pres...

We have developed a technique, using a combination of immunofluorescence staining of semi-ultrathin sections of epoxy resin-embedded samples and the corresponding differential interference contrast (DIC) images and images in transmission mode obtained by confocal laser-scanning microscopy (LSM), that provides detailed information about the immunolocalization of antigens and histological and cel...

The distribution of fungiform papillae density and associated factors were examined in the Beaver Dam Offspring Study. Data were from 2371 participants (mean age = 48.8 years, range = 21-84 years) with 1108 males and 1263 females. Fungiform papillae were highlighted with blue food coloring and the number of fungiform papillae within a standard 6-mm circle was counted. Whole mouth suprathreshold...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To contrast the changes in measurement of the hypoglossal/lingual artery neurovascular bundle (HLNVB) to constant surface landmarks in the base of tongue (BOT) during surgically simulated retraction versus resting anatomic position, and to identify a safe zone for BOT robotic surgery to avoid injury to the HLNVB. STUDY DESIGN Human cadaver study. METHODS Five fresh-fro...

OBJECTIVE The interest in the study of the tongue papillary niches and the related biofilm has increased in recent years because they form a suitable source of periodontal microorganisms and are associated with development of halitosis. Tongue dorsum structure represents a factor favoring a particular and complex bacterial biofilm where periodontal pathogens are frequently found. The aim of thi...

The presence of the prion agent in skeletal muscle is thought to be due to the infection of nerve fibers located within the muscle. We report here that the pathological isoform of the prion protein, PrP(Sc), accumulates within skeletal muscle cells, in addition to axons, in the tongue of hamsters following intralingual and intracerebral inoculation of the HY strain of the transmissible mink enc...