Structural and functional adaptation of the lingual papillae of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus): specific adaptive feeding strategies

Abstract

Histochemical results revealed that the lingual glands showed a stronger Alcian Blue (AB)-positive reaction and gave dark blue colour, while the reaction for the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-stain was negative. Also, the glands exhibited a blue colour as an indication of positive AB reactivity with combined AB-PAS staining.