Fungiform papillae are epithelial taste organs that form on the tongue, requiring differentiation of papillae and inter-papilla epithelium. We tested roles of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the receptor EGFR in papilla development. Developmentally, EGF was localized within and between papillae whereas EGFR was progressively restricted to inter-papilla epithelium. In tongue cultures, EGF decr...

The dorsal surface of the mammalian tongue is covered with four kinds of papillae, fungiform, circumvallate, foliate and filiform papillae. With the exception of the filiform papillae, these types of papillae contain taste buds and are known as the gustatory papillae. The gustatory papillae are distributed over the tongue surface in a distinct spatial pattern. The circumvallate and foliate papi...

Neurotrophins, neurotrophin receptors and sensory neurons are required for the development of lingual sense organs. For example, neurotrophin 3 sustains lingual somatosensory neurons. In the traditional view, sensory axons will terminate where neurotrophin expression is most pronounced. Yet, lingual somatosensory axons characteristically terminate in each filiform papilla and in each somatosens...

Distribution of caudal papillae in adult Romanomermis culicivorax was determined by scanning electron microscopy. Ninety eight caudal papillae, each containing one pore, were present in males but absent in females. Papillae were arranged in three longitudinal rows, one ventral, two ventrolateral; the middle ventral row bifurcated anterior to the spicule. The appearance of the papillae was diffe...