Trophic specificity of the gustatory fibers upon taste bud regeneration.

24 adult dogs were classified into six groups; in 2 animals of each group the lingual nerve was transected distal to the point of entry of the chorda tympani and its proximal end was sutured to the distal end of the glossopharyngeal nerve. In the other 2 animals transtympanic chorda tympani neurectomy was performed before suturing the lingual and glossopharyngeal nerves. Invasion of the papillae by regenerating fibers from the 8th postoperative week onwards was followed by reappearance of taste buds only in lingual glossopharyngeal anastomosis with intact chorda tympani. The difference in number of taste buds, size and number of constituent cells between the two operative procedures was statistically significant from the 8th week onwards. The significance of these findings was discussed.