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Technique to Collect Fungiform (Taste) Papillae from Human Tongue
Published on: September 18, 2010
Innervation of developing human taste buds. An immunohistochemical study
1Department of Anatomy, Technical University Dresden, Germany. mwitt@rcs.urz.tu-dresden.de
Histochemistry and Cell Biology
|April 16, 1998
Summary
Nerve fibers interact with developing human taste bud progenitor cells early in gestation. However, autonomic and somatosensory nerves do not appear crucial for the initial formation and maintenance of early human taste buds.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Neuroscience
- Histology
Background:
- Human gustatory papillae and taste buds develop significantly between the 6th and 23rd postovulatory weeks.
- Understanding the innervation patterns is key to comprehending taste bud development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphological changes and innervation patterns during human gustatory papilla and taste bud development.
- To determine the role of autonomic and somatosensory nerves in early taste bud formation.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to detect various neural markers including PGP9.5, NFH, NFL, NSE, tubulin, SP, CGRP, TH, NPY, and n-NOS.
- Enzyme histochemistry for NADPH-diaphorase was also employed.
- Studies were conducted on human gustatory tissues from the 6th to 23rd postovulatory weeks.
Main Results:
- Nerve fibers approached basal membranes by the 7th week and invaded epithelial structures by the 8th week.
- Early taste buds, particularly anteriorly, did not require dermal papillae.
- Neuropeptides and vasoactive substances were largely undetectable until later stages (after 18 weeks), with SP appearing in dermal papillae but not near taste bud primordia.
Conclusions:
- Nerve fibers interact closely with taste bud progenitor cells during early development.
- Autonomic and somatosensory nerves do not seem to play a significant role in the formation and maintenance of early human taste buds.
