Tongue samples were fixed in 4% PFA overnight and dehydrated in a graded series of ethanol concentrations. Dehydrated samples were then incubated in 50% hexamethyldisilazane (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, USA) for 20 min, followed by three solvent changes to 100% hexamethyldisilazane. After air-drying overnight, the samples were sputter-coated with gold-palladium. Specimens were examined and photographed using a SEM49 (link).
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