Gross and microscopic morphology of the coati tongue (Nasua nasua)

Souza A.F., Oliveira V.C., Santos A.C., Rosa R.A., Carvalho A.F., Mancanares C.A.F. & Ambrosio C.E. 2012. [Gross and microscopic morphology of the coati tongue (Nasua nasua).] Morfologia macro e microscopica da lingua de quati (Nasua nasua). Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 32(3):271-277. Departamento de Ciencias Basicas, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte 225, ZAB, Campus da USP, Pirassununga, SP 13870-000, Brazil. E-mail: alinesouza25@hotmail.com The coati (Nasua nasua) is an animal that belongs to the Procyonidae family. For this study we used three orthotanasized animals of both sexes, obtained from the Scientific Center for Wild Animal Breeding, University Center Octavio Bastos Educational Foundation (Cecrimpas, Unifeob), authorized by IBAMA (Proc.02027.003731/04-76). For microscopic analysis, tongues were processed routinely through electron microscopy scanning and inclusion in Paraplast; for light microscopy, the fragments were cut by microtome with an average thickness of 5mm and stained with H&E and Picrosirius counterstained with hematoxylin. The macroscopic and microscopic results show that the tongue of coati has filiform, fungiform, vallate and conical papillae distributed in the rostralis, medialis and caudalis regions. Histologically, the tongue is lined by a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium with spinous, granulous and keratin basal layer, with striated longitudinal and transverse skeletal muscles fibers, and several glands. We can conclude that coati's tongue has macroscopic and microscopic features similar to the ones of Canidae, with differences in the number of vallate papillae and degree of keratinization.