article · BMC Veterinary Research
This study provides a detailed anatomical and cellular characterisation of the tongue of the red-eared slider turtle, highlighting its adaptations for an omnivorous diet. Macroscopic analysis revealed an arrowhead-shaped tongue with puzzle-like papillae and a central fissure. Microscopic techniques showed distinct distributions of filiform, conical, and fungiform papillae, with taste pores located mainly on the upper surface and mucous cells on the sides. The base of the tongue houses lymphatic tissue, complex skeletal muscle arrangements, and specialised cartilage. Immunofluorescence mapping using seven specific antibodies identified taste bud cells, nerve structures, stromal networks, chondrocytes, and B-cell lymphocytes within the lingual tonsil. Smooth muscle networks surrounding blood vessels and salivary glands were also detailed, expanding fundamental biological knowledge of reptilian feeding adaptations.
Understanding how anatomical structures support feeding strategies provides essential baseline knowledge for comparative biology and veterinary science. By mapping the microanatomy and cellular markers of this turtle species, the findings clarify the evolutionary and physiological adaptations that enable omnivorous reptiles to process food in diverse ecological environments.
The abstract does not indicate a direct application pathway or commercialisation opportunity, as it focuses entirely on early-stage, fundamental comparative anatomy and cellular biology.
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The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is renowned for its remarkable adaptations, yet much of its complex biology remains unknown. In this pioneering study, we utilized a combination of gross anatomy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), light microscopy, and immunofluorescence techniques to examine the tongue's omnivorous adaptation in this species. This research bridges a critical knowledge gap, enhancing our understanding of this intriguing reptile. Gross examination revealed a unique arrowhead-shaped tongue with a median lingual fissure and puzzle-piece-shaped tongue papillae. SEM unveiled rectangular filiform, conical, and fungiform papillae, with taste pores predominantly on the dorsal surface and mucous cells on the lateral surface of the papillae. Histologically, the tongue's apex featured short rectangular filiform and fungiform papillae, while the body exhibited varying filiform shapes and multiple taste buds on fungiform papillae. The tongue's root contained lymphatic tissue with numerous lymphocytes surrounding the central crypt, alongside lingual skeletal musculature, blood and lymph vessels, and Raffin corpuscles in the submucosa. The lingual striated muscle bundles had different orientations, and the lingual hyaline cartilage displayed a bluish coloration of the ground substance, along with a characteristic isogenous group of chondrocytes. Our research represents the first comprehensive application of immunofluorescence techniques to investigate the cellular intricacies of the red-eared slider's tongue by employing seven distinct antibodies, revealing a wide array of compelling and significant findings. Vimentin revealed the presence of taste bud cells, while synaptophysin provided insights into taste bud and nerve bundle characteristics. CD34 and PDGFRα illuminated lingual stromal cells, and SOX9 and PDGFRα shed light on chondrocytes within the tongue's cartilage. CD20 mapped B-cell lymphocyte distribution in the lingual tonsil, while alpha smooth actin (α-SMA) exposed the intricate myofibroblast and smooth muscle network surrounding the lingual blood vessels and salivary glands. In conclusion, our comprehensive study advances our knowledge of the red-eared slider's tongue anatomy and physiology, addressing a significant research gap. These findings not only contribute to the field of turtle biology but also deepen our appreciation for the species' remarkable adaptations in their specific ecological niches.
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DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-03879-2
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