Histochemical studies on the mucins of the vertebrate tongues. XI. Histochemical analysis of mucosubstances in the lingual glands and taste buds of some birds.

The tongues of six birds were investigated histochemically to determine the distribution and nature of mucosubstances in the lingual glands and taste buds. The anterior lingual glands in sparrow, kingfisher, parrot and pigeon hawk contained only one type of cells (seromucous) elaborating a mixture of neutral mucosubstances, sialomucins and sulfomucins. The anterior lingual glands in fowl and owl contained three distinct types of cells elaborating separately neutral mucosubstances, sialomucins and sulfomucins. The posterior lingual glands in most of the birds investigated except fowl contained only seromucous cells identical to the cells in the anterior lingual glands, while in fowl two distinct cell types were identified: one elaborating sulfomucins and the other sialomucins. Taste buds were found to be restricted in the glandular areas of the tongue in all the birds and always in close association with the gland ducts. Special adenomere cavities were seen only in the tongue of sparrow.