Suggestions for the functional relationship between differently located taste buds and vomeronasal olfaction in several mammals

In almost all mammals a well developed, paired and blind ending vomeronasal organ (VNO) situated within the basement of the nasal septum, communicates with the oral cavity. This contact is established by two nasopalatine ducts, which penetrate the rostral palate close to the incisors. These ducts open orally into the sulcus which moulds the palatine papilla. In several mammals taste buds were found in the epithelium of the palatine papilla Located within the nasopalatine ducts or close to their oral openings. Presumably these taste buds interact with the vomeronasal olfaction. It is Likely that they are leading to a chemosensory sensation comparable to the combination of normal taste and smelt. As not all mammals with a functionable VNO possess taste buds in this position, an inspection of the rostral part of the tongue which touches the palatine papilla presented an interesting situation concerning the distribution of taste buds. This region of the tongue is almost completely free of taste buds in species Like Tupaia glis and Didelphis morsupialis virginiana, which have taste buds in the epithelium of their palatine papilla. In Lemur catta however, where the palatine papilla is tacking taste buds, the respective tongue part is densely covered with them. In this case it appears likely that they in a way of substitution functionally are connected with vomeronasal olfaction.