A histoquantitative study of the bursa of Fabricius in 3- and 6-month-old male Prelux Bro chickens (domestic selection) was made. All compartments of normal bursal tissue were examined. At 3 months of age, there were no significant differences in bursal weight and structure between males and females. The only difference observed was the higher volume density of follicular cortex and the lower proportion of follicular medulla in males compared to females. In 6-month-old male and female chickens, a different degree of bursal involution was observed. In the bursa of males, an advanced stage of involution was observed, whereas only the initial signs of bursal involution were found in females.

No abstract

Quantitative stereological study of the bursa of Fabricius in Prelux chickens was performed 3 and 6 months after neonatal gonadectomy. The different structural changes were revealed in bursal follicles, epithelium and stroma of male and female chickens. In orchidectomized animals, the weight of bursa was increased compared to the nonoperated males. Stereological analysis revealed that the absolute amount of bursal follicles was increased due to the increased mass of follicular medulla. The number of areas of follicle-associated epithelium at the bursal mucosa, which in a mature bursa corresponds to the follicle number, was decreased. The height of follicle-associated epithelium (3 months) was decreased and the diameter of the follicle-associated epithelium (6 months) was increased. No changes in the surface density of bursal epithelium was registered 3 and 6 months after neonatal gonadectomy. In ovariectomized chickens the weight of bursa was decreased in comparison to the nonoperated females. Histoquantitative analysis showed that the bursal follicular mass was decreased due to the decreased absolute amount of follicular medulla (3 and 6 months) and cortex (6 months), whereas the number and diameter of follicles were not changed. The height of interfollicular and follicle-associated epithelium was decreased, but no changes in the surface density of bursal epithelium was registered. Relative proportion of bursal stroma was increased. The studies presented further support of the concept that the functional relation between gonads and bursa of Fabricii exists during the postnatal period in the chicken. 112MILICEVIC, ISAKOVIC, VUJIC, MiCiC and MILICEVIC