The innervation of the lingual papillae of the buffalo. A histochemical and immunohistochemical study.

The neural structures of the lingual papillae of the buffalo tongue were studied by means of neurohistological and immunohistochemical techniques and by the Ruffini gold chloride impregnation method. The circumvallate papillae were found to be richly innervated; the conical and filiform papillae were poorly innervated; and the innervation of the fungiform and lenticular papillae was intermediate. The following neural structures were identified: myelinated and non-myelinated fibers, free nerve endings and encapsulated end organs, lamellated corpuscles, Ruffini-like endings, and ganglia containing few cell bodies. Brain-derived neurofilament and the S-100 proteins were found in the majority of these structures. These findings indicate that the innervation of the lingual papillae of the buffalo is fairly well developed. It appears to be similar to that of cattle.