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Published on: November 6, 2014
A scanning electron-microscopic study of tongue development in the frog Rana pipiens
R B Paulson1, K E Alley, L J Salata
1Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Section of Oral Biology, Columbus 43210, USA.
Archives of Oral Biology
|April 1, 1995
Summary
The study tracks the development of the frog tongue during metamorphosis, revealing how larval suction feeding transforms into adult lingual feeding through distinct morphological changes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Comparative anatomy
- Morphology
Background:
- Feeding strategies shift from suction to lingual during amphibian metamorphosis.
- Understanding the morphological changes in the buccal cavity is crucial for explaining this feeding transition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphological development of the floor of the buccal cavity in embryonic and larval Rana pipiens.
- To correlate these changes with the transition from larval to adult feeding behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine Rana pipiens specimens.
- Specimens were collected, anaesthetized, staged using established methods (Shumway, Taylor-Kollros), and fixed.
- Oropharyngeal floors were dissected and prepared for scanning electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Two midline premetamorphic lingual papillae (PMLP) appear in late embryonic stages.
- The larval tongue anlage, incorporating PMLP, develops during the premetamorphic stage.
- Prometamorphosis sees the incorporation of the larval tongue, disappearance of PMLP, and emergence of adult tongue papillae.
Conclusions:
- The study details the morphological transformations of the frog tongue during metamorphosis.
- These changes facilitate the shift from suction feeding to lingual feeding in adult frogs.
