Morphological changes in the tongue as a consequence of manganese inhalation in a murine experimental model: light and scanning electron microscopic analysis.

Air pollution by suspended particles has become a worldwide health problem. The main sources of these particles are fossils and additives combustion. Mn enters the body through inhalation, but part of the particles accesses contact with tongue's posterior surface where lingual tonsils and lingual papillae are placed. We decided to explore in a mouse model, the impact that the deposit of inhaled Mn has on the tongue's surface. Atrophy of the lingual tonsil, filiform papillae, as well as the swelling of taste buds in fungiform papillae, were the predominant changes. Ferropenic anemia is associated with the changes described and could be related to the interference of Mn in iron metabolism and riboflavin absorption. More research should be done to explore the participation of suspended particles trapped in the oral cavity in toxicology of Mn or other inhaled pollutants.