Comparative Investigation of the Morphological Structure of the Tongue in Lambs and Rams: A Macroscopic, Morphometric Light and Scanning Electron Microscopic Study

The tongue, which has a unique mucosal structure, undertakes the task of taking food in living things, turning it into morsels, and transmitting it to the oesophagus. This study aimed to investigate the development of tongue papillae in young (lamb) and adult (ram) Hamdani sheep (Ovis aries) by comparing light and electron microscopic features and morphometric characteristics. Tongue tissues of 7 crossbred Hamdani lambs aged 4-6 months and 7 rams aged 1-2 years were used in the study. Tongues were evaluated macroscopically and morphometrically, and light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic descriptions were also performed. In addition to light microscopic identification, parameters such as papillae height, papillae width, epithelial height, and stratum corneum thickness were measured. The morphometric and histometric data were evaluated statistically. The results demonstrated age-related statistical differences in the number of fungiform and vallate papillae (p < 0.05). In rams, epithelial and papilla heights were higher for all papilla types, indicating that tongue tissue develops with age. The higher number of taste papillae in lambs suggests better taste perception in young animals, whereas the increased stratum corneum on filiform papillae in rams indicates more intensive use of the tongue during food intake. In conclusion, tongue papilla morphology shows age-related variations, with both lambs and rams exhibiting distinct morphological features across different papilla types.