Ovalle W K, Shinn S L
Cell Tissue Res. 1977 Mar 16;178(3):375-84. doi: 10.1007/BF00218701.
External taste buds abound on barbels of the adult catfish Corydoras arcuatus. When examined by scanning electron microscopy, they are visualized as a series of punctate, conical elevations projecting from the general surface epithelium. All taste buds were found to be of one type. Both their external and internal surface features could be clearly elucidated on intact barbels and in barbels fractured transversely at various positions along their length. An extensive nerve terminal network penetrates the base of each taste bud. Two populations of elongated cells bearing prominent microvilli project through the central pore at the tip of each bud. One set of microvilli is thicker, longer and more club-shaped than its counterpart. While both are randomly distributed within each central pore, the small, short microvilli appear to outnumber the larger ones. A third population of cells, devoid of any apical microvilli, was also seen in some of the taste buds examined internally. These cells do not project to the external surface and are interpreted as "basal" cells described in previous light and transmission electron microscope studies of taste buds in other vertebrate species. The functional significance of some of these morphological findings is discussed.
成年弓背兵鲶的触须上布满了外部味蕾。通过扫描电子显微镜检查时，它们呈现为从一般表面上皮突出的一系列点状、锥形隆起。发现所有味蕾均为一种类型。在完整的触须以及沿其长度在不同位置横向断裂的触须中，都能清楚地阐明它们的外部和内部表面特征。一个广泛的神经末梢网络穿透每个味蕾的基部。两组带有突出微绒毛的细长细胞从每个味蕾尖端的中央孔伸出。一组微绒毛比另一组更粗、更长且更呈棒状。虽然两者在每个中央孔内随机分布，但小而短的微绒毛似乎比大的微绒毛数量更多。在一些内部检查的味蕾中还观察到第三组细胞，它们没有任何顶端微绒毛。这些细胞不向外表面突出，被解释为先前在其他脊椎动物物种味蕾的光学显微镜和透射电子显微镜研究中描述的“基底”细胞。讨论了其中一些形态学发现的功能意义。
