Abstract
We studied the ontogeny of the fine structure of substance P‐like immunoreactive (SPI) fibers in the extragemmal epithelium and taste buds of the circurnvallate papillae in the rat tongue by electron microscopy and by the unlabeled antibody‐enzyme method. SPI fibers in the lamina propria first appeared at gestational day 19, and those in the extragemmal epithelium and in the taste buds at day 21. These fibers did not form synaptic contact with underlying cells. In addition, the occurrence of nonimmunoreactive fibers in these areas preceded that of SPI fibers. Our findings suggest that SPI fibers are not primarilly involved in the differentiation of the extragemmal epithelium and taste bud cells.

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