ABSTRACT
Twenty albino rat tongues were used in this study at different age groups. Each group contained five tongues obtained at ages of 16 days prenatally, at birth, one week and three weeks. All specimens were immersed in 4% glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer and prepared to be examined by scanning electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopic examination of prenatal and postnatal tongues revealed that the rudiments of each of the three different types of lingual papillae appeared at different stages of development in rats. The rudiments of the fungiform and circumvallate papillae, which are related to taste sensation, were visible earlier than those of the filiform papillae which are not involved in this sense. The neonates depended mainly on suckling [liquid diet that needs no friction] at least for the first six months of life