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Histological and Histochemical Characterization of the Oviduct of Laying, Incubating and Brooding Philippine Native Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus L.
Abstract:
The histological and histochemical features of the oviduct of laying Philippine native chickens were described and compared with the incubating and brooding types. The general histology of the oviduct was the same in all the three groups of birds. Mucosal folds were present in the entire oviduct in all the three groups but were most numerous and extensive in the uterus or shell gland, and least prominent in the infundibulum. Various patterns of mucosal folds in each oviductal segment were noted, e.g., tall and short in the infundibulum, very broad in the magnum, broad with epithelial folds and crypts in the isthmus, long and tortuous in the uterus, and tall with secondary folds in the vagina. There was a lamina propria-tunica submucosa because of the absence of muscularis mucosa. As expected, the lamina propria-submucosa of the entire oviduct contained tubular glands. In the vagina, these glands are called sperm host glands or sperm storage tubules. Two types of lining epithelium were noted, namely: (a) simple columnar ciliated cells which were present in the infundibulum; and (b) pseudostratified columnar ciliated cells in the magnum, isthmus, uterus, and vagina. The tunica muscularis was most developed in the vagina and least developed in the infundibulum. The uterus showed the most developed inner circular and outer longitudinal layers separated by stratum vasculare. The serosa was typical in all segments. Collagen was present while elastic fibers were absent in the entire oviduct. Histochemically, only the lining epithelium reacted to the special stains: (a) calcium salts was observed only in the shell gland of laying native chickens; (b) neutral and sulfated mucosubstances were present in the epithelia of the magnum and vagina in all three groups—these substances were particularly abundant in the magnum of laying and brooding chickens; (c) mucin was present in the magnum in all birds; and d) glycogen or glycoprotein was present in the magnum, isthmus, and vagina in all birds—it was most abundant in the magnum of laying and brooding chickens, and least abundant in the magnum, isthmus, and vagina of incubating chickens. The histochemical findings suggest that the epithelial cells of the oviduct produce substances other than the albumen, shell membranes, and shell needed in egg formation. Earlier reports can support the results of the study suggesting that the morphology and histochemical components of the oviduct can be influenced by the reproductive stage of the chickens.