A Histological and Histochemical Study of the Glands of von Ebner in the Human Tongue Additional Report: on the Staining Properties of the Mucous Cells

ABSTRACT

Although the glands of von Ebner have been believed to be purely serous glands, they may be of the mixed type in some cases. In order to ascertain the occurrence of mucous cells in the glands and to study the staining properties of them, the authors obtained 23 vallate papillae from 7 Korean adult tongues, cut them serially and stained them with the hematoxylin and eosin, mucicarmine, mucihematein, toluidin blue or ferric mannitol technic. Observing numerous glands of von Ebner opening into the furrows of 23 vallate papillae, the authors found 9 glandular lobules of the mixed type belonging to 8 Vallate papillae (2 lobules out of 9 belonged to one papilla). The mucous cells in the mixed glandular lobules of the glands showed mucin reactions with mucicarmine and mucihematein, and revealed a typical metachromatism by toluidin blue and safranin O.