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Taste perception is one of the important senses in mammals. Taste dysfunction causes significant inconvenience in daily life, leading to subhealth and even life‐threatening condition. Aging is a major cause to taste dysfunction, while the underlying feature related to gustatory aging is still not known. Using single‐cell RNA Sequencing, differentially expressed genes between aged and young taste papillae are identified, including upregulated mt‐Nd4l and Xist, as well as downregulated Hsp90ab1 and Tmem59. In the Tmem59−/− circumvallate papillae (CVP), taste mature cell generation is impaired by reduction in the numbers of PLCβ2+ and Car4+ cells, as well as decreases in expression levels of taste transduction genes. Tmem59−/− mice showed deficits in sensitivities to tastants. Through screening by GenAge and DisGeNET databases, aging‐dependent genes and oral disease‐associated genes are identified in taste papillae. In the CVP, aging promotes intercellular communication reciprocally between (cycling) basal cell and mature taste cell by upregulated Crlf1/Lifr and Adam15/Itga5 signaling. By transcriptional network analysis, ribosome proteins, Anxa1, Prdx5, and Hmgb1/2 are identified as transcriptional hubs in the aged taste papillae. Chronological aging‐associated transcriptional changes throughout taste cell maturation are revealed. Aged taste papillae contain more Muc5b+ cells that are not localized in gustatory gland. Collectively, this study shows molecular and cellular features associated with taste papilla aging. Differentially expressed genes between aged and young taste papillae were identified, including upregulated mt‐Nd4l and Xist, as well as downregulated Hsp90ab1 and Tmem59. Impairing taste receptor cell generation and decreases in expression levels of taste transduction genes were found in the Tmem59−/− circumvallate papillae, and Tmem59−/− mice showed deficits in sensitivities to tastants.

This study investigated how high-fat and calcium-deficient diets affect the tongue’s structure and function in Wistar albino rats. These diets can lead to obesity, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which alter salivary gland function, impair taste bud regeneration, and disrupt epithelial integrity partly through changes in β-catenin signaling. The research examined histological changes in e filiform and fungiform papillae and evaluated β-catenin expression in the tongue epithelium. Forty-five male Wistar rats albino rats were divided into three groups: control, high-fat diet (HFD), and low calcium diet (LCD). The feeding period lasted 12 weeks. Tongue tissues were collected for histological examination using H&E staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and β-catenin immunohistochemistry. Blood samples were analyzed for calcium, insulin, glucose, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. Both high-fat and calcium-deficient diets led to significant weight gain, increased insulin levels, and disrupted lipid profiles in rats. The high-fat diet caused moderate damage to histological tongue structures and reduced β-catenin expression. In contrast, the calcium-deficient diet resulted in more severe epithelial damage, complete papillary atrophy, and a significant decrease in β-catenin expression ( p  < 0.001). Both high-fat and calcium-deficient diets adversely affect the filiform and fungiform structure and function, with calcium deficiency showing a more severe and direct impact through disruption of β-catenin signaling and epithelial integrity.

IntroductionERCP carries risks of pancreatitis, perforation and bleeding. Extensive studies have been carried out in a bid to reduce these risks and to modify procedural related risk factors to minimise the risk of pancreatitis. One of these methods is utilising the needle knife fistulotomy (NKF) early into gaining biliary access.MethodsAll the cases with NKF, either early or primary, during ERCP by a single operator over a ten-year period from January 2013 to December 2023 were identified. The notes and endoscopy reports were reviewed for:rate of biliary cannulation in initial ERCP and subsequent attempts for failed procedures following NKFpapillary morphology (according to Haraldsson classification) and associated biliary cannulation ratecomplication rate of ERCP where NKF was attemptedResultsThere were 329 cases of ERCP had NKF done by a single operator. There was 298 cases of early NKF and 31 cases of primary NKF. The overall biliary cannulation rate was 88.5% (n=291) on first attempt ERCP with NKF. Among the unsuccessful first ERCPs (n=38), 17 patients were brought back for re-attempt ERCP and success rate was 82.4% (n=14). The cumulative biliary cannulation rate is 92.7% (n=305). The success rate was the highest in bulged papillae (Haraldsson Type 3) at 96.5% with the lowest complication rate at 1.8%, all of which were pancreatitis. There were 31 cases of primary NKF with 93.5% (n=29) biliary cannulation with no complications. Most cases of primary NKF was done on bulged papilla (n=19) all of which were successful in biliary cannulation. The complication rate of NKF was 3.0% (n=10). Post-procedure bleeding was at 0.3% (n=1) and 0.3% (n=1) for perforation. The rate of pancreatitis was 2.4% (n=8). The mortality rate in this study was 0.3% (n=1) from severe pancreatitis.ConclusionsIn difficult ERCP, NKF is effective in in experienced hands, as evidenced by 88.5% biliary cannulation rate on first attempt. After a failed initial ERCP, repeat ERCP should be re-considered as supported by 82.4% success rate on second ERCP following initial NKF, alongside a cumulative success rate of 92.7%. In suitable cases, primary NKF should be considered as there is a 93.5% success rate and no complications in our small group of patients. Analysis of papillary morphology showed that bulged papillae (Haraldsson Type 3) had the most success with 96.5% cannulation rate and 1.8% complication rate, all of which were pancreatitis. NKF is a safe modality in experienced hands with low rates of complications (3.0%) and specifically pancreatitis (2.4%).

The study was focused on the anatomical characteristics of the Egyptian long-eared hedgehog's oral cavity by using gross and scanning electron microscopic examinations. The upper lip had an elongated T-shaped snout-like structure. The hard palate had a triangular rostral part (which had a semicircular area and a caudal ridged area with the first 3 or 4 ridges) and a caudal part (which contained seven or eight slightly oblique ridges with raphae). The diamond-incisive papilla is flanked on both sides by a groove and a fissure. The hard palate surface had glandular openings and a microplicae system. The uneven, soft palate's surface had multiple grooves and folds with 12–16 Gemmal papillae. The Gemmal papillary surface had three to four taste pores with microplicae and glandular openings. The dorsal lingual surface had six filiform subtypes: pointed (on the tip, rostral border, and median apical region), triangular (on the lateral apical and circumvallate regions), bifurcated (on the median tip only), leaf-like (on the median body region), branched (on the lateral root region), and small pointed papillae (on the median root). There were two fungiform subtypes: ovals (on the rostral border and lateral region) and rounds (on the median apical region and body). The caudal root part had a triangular arrangement of three circumvallate papillae. In conclusion, the finding confirmed its oral cavity adaptation with its insectivorous feeding habits and Egyptian environment. Graphical Abstract Highlight The hard palate had a triangular rostral part (which was divided into a semicircular area and a caudal ridged area) and a caudal part (which contained seven or eight slightly oblique ridges). The diamond-incisive papilla is flanked on both sides by a groove and a fissure. The hard palate had glandular openings and a microplicae system. The uneven, soft palate's surface had multiple grooves and folds with 12–16 Gemmal papillae. The Gemmal papillary surface had three to four taste pores with microplicae and glandular openings. The dorsal lingual surface had six filiform subtypes: pointed, triangular, bifurcated, leaf-like, branched, and small pointed papillae. There are two fungiform subtypes: ovals (on the rostral border and lateral region) and rounds (on the median apical region and body). The caudal root part had a triangular arrangement of three circumvallate papillae.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sodium butyrate (SB) infusion on rumen papillae growth and volatile fatty acid (VFA) uptake and metabolism in neonatal lambs. Seven pairs of newborn twin lambs were used. Within each pair, lambs were assigned to receive an oral infusion of SB at 0.36 g/kg body weight (BW) (SB, n = 7) or the same volume of saline (Con, n = 7). Treatments were administered from 10 to 49 d of age, when all lambs were slaughtered. Results showed that the average daily feed intake (ADFI) of starter, average daily gain (ADG), BW of lambs at ages of 5 and 6 wk in SB group were greater (P < 0.05) than those in Con group. Infusion of SB increased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of acetate, butyrate, and total VFA in the rumen fluid and elevated (P < 0.05) the levels of β-hydroxybutyrate acid (BHBA), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and insulin in plasma. Infusion of SB promoted rumen papillae growth, depicted by higher emptied rumen weight, larger rumen papillae length, width, and surface area, and greater thickness of stratum corneum and total epithelium. Sodium butyrate infusion upregulated (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of cyclin A2, cyclin D1, and cyclin-dependent kinases 6 (CDK6), and downregulated (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of caspase-3 and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in the rumen epithelia. Moreover, SB infusion also upregulated (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 5 (IGFBP-5), and downregulated (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) in the rumen epithelia. Sodium butyrate infusion also enhanced (P < 0.05) gene expressions of monocarboxylate transporter isoform 1 (MCT1), downregulated in adenoma (DRA), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase isoform 2 (HMGCS2), and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase (HMGCL), while depressed (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of sodium/proton exchanger isoform 2 (NHE2) in the rumen epithelia. Our results suggest that the SB infusion can improve animal performance, promote the ruminal papillae growth, and enhance expression of genes related to ruminal epithelial VFA uptake and metabolism in preweaning twin lambs. These findings provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of SB promoting rumen epithelial development and function in preweaning lambs.

Salty taste is mediated through two distinct transduction pathways: the amiloride‐sensitive and amiloride‐insensitive (AI). Transmembrane channel‐like 4 (TMC4), a voltage‐dependent chloride channel, has recently been identified as playing a critical role in AI‐mediated salt taste responses. Although its functional properties have been demonstrated, the specific taste cell types that express TMC4 have not been fully characterized. To investigate the cellular localization of TMC4, we generated Tmc4 ‐EGFP knock‐in mice and performed immunohistochemical analyses of the taste papillae. By performing multiple fluorescent immunostaining with cell‐type‐specific markers, such as KCNQ1 (type I–III), Gustducin and PLCβ2 (type II), and AADC (type III), together with EGFP, we found that over 98% of EGFP‐positive cells overlapped with the signal of all three taste cell type markers in the circumvallate papillae of Tmc4 ‐EGFP mice. In the fungiform papillae, 95.9% of EGFP‐positive cells colocalized with KCNQ1. These results demonstrate that TMC4 is broadly expressed across all three taste cell types, and suggest the possible involvement of multiple, functionally distinct taste cell populations in AI‐mediated salty taste transduction.

The gustatory system is responsible for detecting and evaluating the palatability of the various chemicals present in food and beverages. Taste bud cells, located primarily on the tongue, communicate with the gustatory sensory neurons by means of neurochemical signals, transmitting taste information to the brain. It has also been found that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) may modulate food intake and palatability, and that taste bud cells express cannabinoid receptors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of cannabinoid and cannabinoid-related receptors in the gustatory cells of the papillae vallatae and foliatae of ten piglets. Specific antibodies against the cannabinoid receptors (CB1R and CB2R), G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55), transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) were applied on cryosections of lingual tissue; the lingual tissue was also processed using Western blot analysis. Cannabinoid and cannabinoid-related receptors were found to be expressed in the taste bud cells and the surrounding epithelial cells. The extra-papillary epithelium also showed strong immunolabeling for these receptors. The results showed that these receptors were present in both the taste bud cells and the extra-gustatory epithelial cells, indicating their potential role in taste perception and chemesthesis. These findings contributed to understanding the complex interactions between cannabinoids and the gustatory system, highlighting the role of the ECS within taste perception and its potential use in animal production in order to enhance food intake.

Plants are constantly exposed to a wide range of potential pathogens and to protect themselves, have developed a variety of chemical and physical defense mechanisms. Callose is a β-(1,3)-D-glucan that is widely distributed in higher plants. In addition to its role in normal growth and development, callose plays an important role in plant defense. Callose is deposited between the plasma membrane and the cell wall at the site of pathogen attack, at the plasmodesmata, and on other plant tissues to slow pathogen invasion and spread. Since it was first reported more than a century ago, defense-related callose deposition has been extensively studied in a wide-spectrum of plant-pathogen systems. Over the past 20 years or so, a large number of studies have been published that address the dynamic nature of pathogen-induced callose deposition, the complex regulation of synthesis and transport of defense-related callose and associated callose synthases, and its important roles in plant defense responses. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the regulation and function of defense-related callose deposition in plants and discuss both the progresses and future challenges in addressing this complex defense mechanism as a critical component of a plant immune system.

BACKGROUND: The tongue exhibits significant individual variability in terms of shape, colour, and surface texture. Due to its location, it is easily accessible for medical examination, although often overlooked. This is due to the inadequate number of studies assessing the morphology of the tongue in the healthy population. Determining the range of normalcy allows for the definition of tongue pathology requiring further diagnostics. The aim of this study is to assess differences in the morphological structure of the tongue in healthy individuals based on existing literature. Morphological structure was evaluated in terms of volume, shape, colour, coating, papillae, texture, and lingual tonsil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed and ResearchGate databases were included for a thorough analysis of morphological differences in tongue structure. RESULTS: Tongue volume stabilizes by the end of the second decade of life and is closely correlated with BMI. Among the shapes of the tongue, forms such as circular, ellipsoidal, hammer-shaped, in the shape of the letter U, V, or W can bedistinguished, and the multitude of these terms results from the lack of a uniform classification. There is agreement regarding tongue colour, with various shades of pink and white being the most commonly observed, while the presence of another colour may indicate disease. The density and size of individual papillae depend on the region of the tongue, age, and the presence of systemic disease. Geographic tongue, hairy black tongue, and fissured tongue are states of papillae pathology. Fissuring of the tongue increases with age, and fissured tongue is more common in men. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the morphological structure of the tongue provide significant information about the health status of each individual. It is necessary to be aware of the physiological changes occurring within the tongue for proper diagnosis.

Despite its contribution to food perception, lingual tactile sensitivity has been understudied. We hypothesized that sensitivity to threshold and suprathreshold tactile stimuli varies in the population and sought to determine proximate sources of variability. Forty-eight adults were tested for lingual threshold sensitivity via a modified letter identification task and suprathreshold sensitivity via estimation of stimulus size using magnitude estimation. In addition, taste bud density on the anterior tip of each panelist’s tongue was estimated by counting the number of fungiform papillae in a 0.317 cm 2 circumscribed area. Lingual tactile thresholds were significantly impacted by age group as subjects 40 years or older had higher thresholds than those in their 20s. Moreover, threshold sensitivity increased with increasing fungiform papillae count. Suprathreshold estimates of size were not affected by age group, sex, or fungiform papillae count.