ABSTRACT
The current investigation described the ultrastructural and histological features of the lingual papillary system in 14 adult Rhinopoma hardwickii using scanning electron and light microscopy, and immunohistochemical staining of keratin. Three types of lingual papillae were recognized; one filiform mechanical and two gustatory (fungiform and circumvallate) of three directions: posterior, posteromedian, and median. Five filiform papillae subtypes were observed in four regions. The lingual tip had numerous giant filiform papillae. The lingual root was divided into two regions, an anterior papillary and a posterior non-papillary region that had only three circumvallate papillae in a triangular pattern. Histologically, the papillae exhibited detached thick keratin that spread over the dorsal epithelial surface. The dorsal surface of the root had stratified keratinized circumvallate papillae. Concerning the pan-cytokeratin (CK) antibody staining, moderate CK expression was observed in the superficial corneal layer of the apical lingual mucosa. While the superficial corneal cell layer in both body and root exhibited increasing of CK antibody. Morphometrically, there was a significantly increased, region-specific number of triangular, pointed filiform papillae, which were relatively increased in length and width. However, the round conical blunt filiform papillae and fungiform papillae were sparse. We concluded that our results showed distinguished adaptations in the lingual structure and its different papillae established on the nutritional and energetic demand of this bat species. This lingual adaptation is summarized in number, position, taste buds, direction, ultrastructural features, and histological that concerned with its ability in eating during the night flight. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Three types of lingual papillae; one mechanical (filiform) and two gustatory (fungiform and circumvallate) in which there were three circumvallate papillae on the posterior part of the lingual root in a triangular arrangement with an irregular surface, but the filiform papillae had five subtypes arranged in four regions. The lingual root was divided into two regions, an anterior papillary region and a posterior non-papillary region that only had three circumvallate papillae. Concerning staining with a pan-cytokeratin (CK) antibody, moderate CK expression was observed in the superficial corneal layer of the lingual mucosa of the tongue apex while the superficial corneal cell layer of the body and root exhibited increased expression of the CK antibody compared to the lingual apex.
Subject(s)
Chiroptera , Taste Buds , Animals , Egypt , Keratins , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Taste Buds/ultrastructure , Tongue/ultrastructureABSTRACT
Abstract This report introduced the description of two different species of digenean parasites isolated from the intestine of Rhinopoma hardwickii with new host and locality records in Egypt. The recovered helminthes were studied morphologically and morphometrically by light microscopy and the surface topography of the two species was elucidated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Urotrema scabridum had an elongated body, testes were tandem, ovaries were pretesticular, and vitelline follicles were observed in 2 lateral fields. SEM showed that the anterior half was covered with random and backwardly directed tegument spines. The lumen of the oral sucker was as a longitudinal slit encircled with type I dome-shaped papillae. The ventral sucker was wrinkled and covered by tongue-shaped tegument spines and several scattered papillae. Renschetrema indicum had a fusiform body with minute spines densely distributed in the anterior part of the body; testes sub-triangular, ovary fusiform; vitellaria were randomly distributed around the ceca and genital organs. SEM showed that the fore-body was ventrally concave and surrounded by cytoplasmic ridges equipped with numerous closely packed claw-shaped spines. The oral sucker was externally surrounded by two circles of papillae while the lip of the ventral sucker was rounded and surrounded by three papillae located in its upper end and anterolaterally.
Resumo O trabalho descreve duas espécies diferentes de parasitas digêneos isolados do intestino de Rhinopoma hardwickii, com novos registros de hospedeiros e localidade no Egito. Os helmintos recuperados foram estudados morfologicamente e morfometricamente por microscopia óptica, e a topografia superficial das duas espécies foi verificada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Urotrema scabridum apresenta um corpo alongado, testículos em tandem, ovários localizados pré-testiculares e os folículos vitelinos foram observados em 2 campos laterais. A microscopia eletrônica (ME) mostrou que a metade anterior do tegumento estava coberta com espinhos aleatoriamente e voltados para trás. O lúmen da ventosa oral apresentava-se como uma fenda longitudinal cercada de papilas em forma de cúpula tipo I. A ventosa ventral estava enrrugada e coberta por espinhos no tegumento em forma de língua e com várias papilas dispersas. Renschetrema indicum tinha um corpo fusiforme com espinhos diminutos densamente distribuídos na parte anterior do corpo; testículos sub-triangulares, ovários fusiformes; as glândulas vitelínicas estavam distribuídas aleatoriamente em torno do ceco e dos órgãos genitais. À ME a região anterior mostrou-se ventralmente côncava e cercada por cristas citoplasmáticas equipadas com numerosos espinhos em forma de unhas muito próximos. A ventosa oral apresentou-se externamente cercada por duas fileiras de papilas, enquanto a borda da ventosa ventral mostrou-se arredondada e cercada por três papilas localizadas na sua extremidade superior e antero-lateralmente.
