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The histology and ultrastructure of vallate taste bud in
postadrenonectomy Wistar rats were compared to those in normal
or sham-operated animals. The effect of salt intake on the taste
bud was also investigated. Experimental animals were divided into five groups as following: (1)ADX+So(22): adrenalectomized and provided normal saline as daily drink; (2) ADX +Si(20): adrenal- ectomized, provided tap water as daily drink, and an injection of normal saline intraperitoneally daily (2-3 ml per day); (3) Sham+ So(18): sham operated and provided normal saline as daily drink;(4) Sham+Si: Sham operated and injected normal saline intraperitoneally daily (2-3ml perday); (5) Normal: no operation and provided tap water as daily drink. All animals were sacrificed one, two, or three week after each treatment and the rat vallate papillae was processed for light- and electron- microscopy. We measured the size of the taste bud in the vallete papilla and analyzed the cell number in the taste bud at light microscopic level. Histological observations revealed that taste buds of rat vallete taste buds were localized within the layer of stratified squamous epithelium in the trench around the papilla. The apical end of the taste bud is communicated with the oral cavity through the trench via taste pore, while the base of the taste bud attached to the underlying connective tissue by basement membrane. Taste cells can be divided into dark cells and light cells and into type I, II, III and basal cells at light and electron microscopic level respectively. No obvious difference in histology or ultra-structure of vallte taste buds was observed in all the animals, except that mitotic basal cells were more often
seen(7-8%) in adrenalectomized animals than in normal animals(2-3%).
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