Morphogenesis of the New Zealand white rabbit tongue (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

The current study was designed to describe the prenatal developmental stages of the rabbit tongue. Thirty-five embryos of prenatal ages (E16, E19, E23, E25, E28, and Postnatal) were obtained from New Zealand white (NZW) rabbit. The primordia of the tongue were observed on the foundation as early as day 16 prenatal age (E16). The first primordia of lingual papillae were observed that including the primordia of circumvallate papillae at day 19 prenatal (E19). Thickenings of lingual epithelium developed at 19 day prenatal of embryo. At day 23-25 pc, the presence of primordia of foliate papillae was shown in addition to primordia of the fungiform and filiform papillae were found. The development of the final shape of the tongue is a longstanding process that occurs during the prenatal and postnatal life. The first primordia of gustatory papillae appear, and only later primordia of mechanical papillae are formed. In conclusion, the morphogenesis of the tongue and its lingual papillae discussed its herbivorous nature of feeding.