Histologic analysis of the tongue of the toad Bufo marinus (Linné)
González-Elorriaga, M.A.; Quijada-Rodríguez, G.
Acta Cientifica Venezolana 39(4): 355-362
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5504 PMID: 3152043 Document Number: 320135
A study of the normal histology of the tongue of the american toad Bufo marinus was made over the whole rostrocaudal extension with special reference to the dorsal mucosa. Transverse and sagittal serial sections were made from the proximal, central and distal regions and stained for light microscopy by six different techniques. Microscopical study revealed that the dorsal mucosa presents distinct characteristics in each region considered unlike hitherto described for other amurans. It is papillary and with papillary taste organs on the distal region; folded and with "transitional" taste organs on the central region; and smooth (non-folded), ciliated with with nonpapillary taste organs on the proximal region. Moreover, the glands showed regional differences too. Some microscopical aspects about the structure of the ventral mucosa, muscular tissue and nervous tissue are described. Related to the nervous tissue it is signaled for the first time nervous ganglia in the tongue to the anurans. The results suggest that the tongue of Rufo marinus has some specific morphological characteristics besides a structural complexity non hitherto described for other anurans even in species of the same genus.