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A quantitative study of cat epiglottal taste buds during development
Journal of Anatomy
|June 1, 1983
Summary
Upper airway chemoreceptors develop early. Epiglottal taste bud development in cats suggests newborns may have these chemoreceptors for reflex responses to laryngeal stimulation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Upper airway chemoreceptors play a role in protective reflexes.
- The development and function of epiglottal taste buds in early life are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the development of epiglottal taste buds in cats from fetal stages to adulthood.
- To investigate the relationship between taste bud number, age, and weight.
Main Methods:
- Counting epiglottal taste buds in cat fetuses, kittens, and adults.
- Analyzing the correlation between taste bud number, age, and weight.
Main Results:
- Taste buds similar to adult structures were found in near-term fetuses and newborn kittens.
- The number of epiglottal taste buds increased logarithmically with age and weight, with a stronger correlation to weight.
- A mean of 76 taste buds was observed in the first postnatal week, reaching 800 in adulthood.
Conclusions:
- Epiglottal taste buds are present early in development, suggesting a role in neonatal airway reflexes.
- These findings indicate that chemoreceptors in the epiglottis may mediate reflex apnea and swallowing in response to chemical laryngeal stimulation in newborns.