Histology of the lingual glands in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)*

The salivary glands in the tongue of Japanese quail were rostral and caudal lingual glands. The rostral glands were paired and located in the free part of the tongue dorsolateral to the entoglossal bone, with the ducts opening on the ventrolateral surface of the tongue. The unpaired caudal lingual gland was observed in the dorsal part of the base of the tongue, with the glandular duets opening on the dorsal surface of the base. Both the glands were located in the laminapropria and were surrounded by a connective tissue capsule. The glands were compound tubulo-alveolar glands with holocrine nature. The rostral glands exhibited both serous and mucous cells whereas the caudal gland consisted only of mucous cells. Taste buds were seen associated with most of the glandular ducts atthe base of the tongue.