Three-dimensional reconstruction of gustatory papillae and its taste buds in short-hair cats (Felis Catus domestica, felidae, Carnivora)

Previous studies on the cat's tongue focused on the anatomy of the tongue and on the lingual papillae micromorphology. According to new challenges in studies on gustatory papillae, we adopted a modern computer-aided method of 3D reconstruction of gustatory papillae from serial 2D cross-sections in the description of the taste bud system. The study in short-hair cats aimed for the first time in carnivores to analyze fungiform (Fu papillae) and vallate papillae (Vp papillae) with spatial visualization of connective tissue cores (CTCs) and the arrangement and exact number of taste buds (Tbs). Results indicate the diversity in size and internal connective tissue microstructure of Fu and Vp papillae in short-hair cats. Four types of CTCs were distinguished in Fu papillae: mushroom-like, club-like, columnar-like, and bud-like, whereas CTC in Vp papillae was mushroom-like. The Tbs of Fu and on Vp papillae were either evenly distributed or grouped. Tbs of Fu papillae analyzed in particular parts of the tongue and on Vp papillae revealed differences in its number. The estimated total number of Tbs on the tongue was up circa 8265. Our 2D and 3D Tbs analyses highlight the functional importance of different tongue regions: the lingual apex for food preselection, the lateral lingual surfaces for analyzing chewed food, and the caudal part of the tongue for final food tasting before swallowing. Comparing our results in cats with previous studies on herbivores, we recommend using proposed 3D analyses as effective tools for further comparative studies of mammalian gustatory structures.