Effect of indomethacin on the histological structure and cholinesterase activity of taste buds

The present work was undertaken to study the effect of indomethacin on the histological structure and cholinesterase activity of taste buds. 16 adult rabbits were divided into four groups; 2 animals of each group were given a daily oral dose of indomethacin and the other 2 animals were used as controls. The animals were sacrificed at 7, 12, 17 and 30 days, respectively. The areas containing circumvallate and foliate papillae were excised for the study of their histological structure and cholinesterase activity. Administration of indomethacin was followed by a decrease in cholinesterase activity and a shrinkage of the reactive zones of the perigemmal, intragemmal and subgemmal plexuses; the cholinesterase activity eventually disappeared on the 17th day. On the 30th day, it reappeared in the above-mentioned sites. The taste buds did not show any degenerative changes and were similar to those of the controls. The significance of these findings is discussed.