Numerical variation and distributive pattern on microvascular cast specimens of vallate papillae in the crossbred Japanese cat tongue.

In order to examine in detail the numerical variation and distributive pattern of vallate papillae (VaP) on the lingual posterior dorsal surface of the crossbred Japanese cat tongue, macroscopic, stereoscopic and scanning electron microscopic studies by means of a microvascular cast specimen (MVCS) were carried out under the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Regardless of sex, there were 4-8 VaPs in number, with an average of 6, forming 2-4 pairs arranged by type which could be observed symmetrically or asymmetrically on both sides of the posterior dorsal region of the tongue surface. The results of this study showed that the distributive pattern of VaP can be classified into six forms: typical forms I (2 left and 2 right), II (3:3) and III (4:4); and forms IV (2:3), V (2:4) and VI (3:2) were atypical. It seems that there is every probability that statistically another atypical form (3:4), (4:2), (4:3) will appear in the future. Nevertheless, in a large number of studies on the lingual papillae of the cat tongue, 8 VaPs arranged in pairs by type have been found (form III (4:4)) has not yet been reported in the crossbred Japanese cat tongue.