Bradley R M, Stedman H M, Mistretta C M
Anat Rec. 1985 Jul;212(3):246-9. doi: 10.1002/ar.1092120305.
Taste buds and papillae in tongues of rhesus monkeys were examined and counted to determine if there are age-related differences in general morphology or numbers of receptor organs. Tongues from 15 monkeys in five groups aged 4-31 years were studied with light microscopy. Fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate papillae were examined and taste buds in each papilla type were counted. Numbers of papillae did not differ with age through 31 years; however, at 24 years and older, fungiform papillae were reduced in number in some animals that had lost tongue tips due to trauma. There were no age-related differences in numbers of taste buds in any of the three gustatory papilla types, nor did taste bud diameter alter with age. From data on each papilla type, estimates were made of total numbers of lingual taste buds. Totals ranged from about 8,000 to 10,000 and there were no age-related differences. These results support other recent reports that taste buds are not decreased in number in old rats or humans. Since taste bud numbers and general morphology are maintained even in old age, any age-related differences in taste behavior cannot be attributed to gross degenerative changes in lingual taste buds.
对恒河猴舌头的味蕾和乳头进行了检查和计数，以确定受体器官的总体形态或数量是否存在与年龄相关的差异。使用光学显微镜对五组年龄在4至31岁的15只猴子的舌头进行了研究。检查了菌状乳头、轮廓乳头和叶状乳头，并对每种乳头类型中的味蕾进行了计数。在31岁之前，乳头数量没有随年龄变化；然而，在24岁及以上时，一些因创伤失去舌尖的动物的菌状乳头数量减少。三种味觉乳头类型中的味蕾数量均无与年龄相关的差异，味蕾直径也不会随年龄改变。根据每种乳头类型的数据，估算了舌味蕾的总数。总数约为8000至10000个，且没有与年龄相关的差异。这些结果支持了最近的其他报道，即老年大鼠或人类的味蕾数量不会减少。由于即使在老年时味蕾数量和总体形态也能保持，任何与年龄相关的味觉行为差异都不能归因于舌味蕾的严重退行性变化。
