Location and variation in number of taste buds in human fungiform papillae.

Serial sections of 182 fungiform papillae, obtained at autopsy from 22 individuals aged 2 days to 90 years, were examined by light microscopy with regard to location and number of taste buds. The taste buds were always found on the convex, dorsal surface of the papillae but otherwise failed to display any preferential location pattern. A total of 262 taste buds, an average of 1.4 per papilla, were found. However, there was considerable variation in the occurrence of taste buds, both from papilla to papilla and from case to case. While the number of taste buds in a single papilla varied from 0 to 27, 63% of the papillae had no taste buds at all, 26% had 1-3 buds and the remainder 4 or more buds. The mean number of taste buds per papilla varied from 0 to 9 between individuals; no dependence upon sex or age could be demonstrated for this variation. The significance of these anatomical findings with regard to physiological studies on taste involving the fungiform papillae is discussed.

[1]  Y. Mochizuki.  Studies on the Papilla Foliata of Japanese. 2. The number of taste buds. , 1939 .

[2]  K. Arvidson,et al.  Qualitative psychophysical studies on the gustatory effects of the sweet tasting proteins thaumatin and monellin , 1978 .

[3]  F. A. State,et al.  Effect of the length of the distal stump of transected nerve upon the rate of degeneration of taste buds. , 1977, Acta anatomica.

[4]  Y. Mochizuki.  An Observation on the Numerical and Topographical Relations of Taste Buds to Circumvallate Papillae of Japanese. , 1937 .

[5]  R. Bradley,et al.  The development of the human taste bud during the foetal period. , 1967, Journal of anatomy.

[6]  G. Békésy.  Taste theories and the chemical stimulation of single papillae. , 1966 .

[7]  E R LALONDE,et al.  Number and distribution of taste buds on the epiglottis, pharynx, larynx, soft palate and uvula in a human newborn , 1961, The Anatomical record.

[8]  L. M. Beidler,et al.  RENEWAL OF CELLS WITHIN TASTE BUDS , 1965, The Journal of cell biology.

[9]  A. A. Bondok,et al.  Effect of vincristine on the histological structure of taste buds. , 1977, Acta anatomica.

[10]  A. Zalewski,et al.  Regeneration of taste buds in tongue grafts after reinnervation by neurons in transplanted lumbar sensory ganglia. , 1973, Experimental neurology.

[11]  G. Schwalbe.  Das Epithel der Papillae vallatae , 1867 .

[12]  M. Cheal,et al.  Taste fiber responses during reinnervation of fungiform papillae , 1977, The Journal of comparative neurology.

[13]  E. Dzendolet,et al.  ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF HUMAN FUNGIFORM PAPILLAE , 1974 .

[14]  Bush Elliott.  Total distribution of taste buds on the tongue of the kitten at birth , 1937 .

[15]  P. Jeppsson.  Studies on the structure and innervation of taste buds. An experimental and clinical investigation. , 1969, Acta oto-laryngologica. Supplementum.

[16]  R M Bradley,et al.  Fetal sensory receptors. , 1975, Physiological reviews.

[17]  N. Mccutcheon,et al.  Human Taste Papilla Stimulation: Stability of Quality Judgments over Time , 1972, Science.

[18]  D. M. Pharr,et al.  Some Morphogenic Differences between Monoecious and Gynoecious Cucumber Seedlings as Related to Ethylene Production. , 1975, Plant physiology.

[19]  R. P. Erickson,et al.  Chemically evoked sensations from single human taste papillae , 1966 .

[20]  L. B. Arey,et al.  The numerical and topographical relations of taste buds to human circumv allate papillae throughout the life span , 1935 .

[21]  A. Zalewski,et al.  Regeneration of taste buds after transplantation of tongue and ganglia grafts to the anterior chamber of the eye. , 1972, Experimental neurology.

[22]  David V. Smith,et al.  Multiple sensitivity to chemical stimuli in single human taste papillae , 1975, Physiology & Behavior.

[23]  K. Arvidson.  SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF FUNGIFORM PAPILLAE ON THE TONGUE OF MAN AND MONKEY , 1976 .

[24]  A. Zalewski.  NEURONAL AND TISSUE SPECIFICATIONS INVOLVED IN TASTE BUD FORMATION , 1974, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.