Electron microscopic observation of vallate taste buds of zinc-deficient rats with taste disturbance.

Henkin et al. (1975) reported that there is a loss of the dense substance in the taste pore region, a loss of microvilli and a decrease of dark granules and microvacuolation in the taste pore buds of patients who complain of taste disturbance. In our experiment, we prepared artificially zinc-deficient rats by feeding a zinc-deficient diet and observed the same results in the taste buds of zinc-deficient rats with taste disturbance.