Ultrastructure of the Tongue of Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo-hybrid breed) Reared in Türkiye Using Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy

The tongue is one of the organs involved in the digestive and sensory system, which plays an important role in feeding strategies in birds. In our study, macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the tongue were determined in turkeys raised in Türkiye. For this purpose, 5 turkey tongues cut for consumption were used. The tongue was divided into apex, corpus, and radix sections and fixed with formaldehyde. After fixation, sections were taken by embedding in paraffin wax using routine histological tissue procedures. The sections were stained with the Masson trichrome staining method and histological features were determined. For scanning electron microscopy, tissue samples fixed by glutaraldehyde solution were coated with gold after the routine procedure and examined under a scanning electron microscope. As a result of the study, the tongue was triangular and conical papillae were observed between the corpus and radix. Two cornified epithelial structures were determined in histological and electron microscopic findings. Microscopic papillae extending from the connective tissue to the epithelial layer on the dorsal surface of the tongue in different directions were quite prominent. Anterior and posterior lingual glands were present in the corpus and radix of the tongue. Electron microscopic examination showed the opening holes of these glands and conic papillae. Although slight differences were observed, the tongue structure was generally similar to that of Galliform birds.