Morphological Studies on the Harderian Gland in the Ostrich (Struthio camelus domesticus) on the Embryonic and Post-natal Period

Abstract

The present investigation was performed on 50 ostriches from 28th day of incubation until the 7th month of life. The morphological (morphometric, histological, histometric and histochemical) studies were conducted. Tissue sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin, methyl green-pyronin Y, periodic acid-Schiff, alcian blue pH 2.5, aldehyde fuchsin and Hale's dialyzed iron studies. The Harderian gland becomes macroscopically visible on the 28th day of incubation. It is situated in the ventronasal angle of the orbit near inter-orbital septum, between medial rectus muscle, pyramidal and ventral oblique muscles. The Harderian gland of ostrich is a tubulo-acinar gland. The acini were composed of tall conical cells which formed a small lumen and were surrounded by myoepithelial cells. These cells had a granular basophilic, vacuolated cytoplasm. Each of the lobes has a system of complex branching ducts - tertiary, secondary and primary. In the III of research group (3rd week of life), the presence of few plasma cells was demonstrated, which were located within acini and tertiary and secondary ducts, whereas the biggest concentration of plasma cells was observed in group IV of research tissue (4th month of life). The dark cells were observed first time in main ducts 72 h after hatching of nestlings (group II). The morphometric and histometric studies showed that the most intensive growth of Harderian gland occurred between the third week and the seventh month of birds' life. The histochemical study indicated the presence of neutral and acidic mucins, glycoproteins and carboxylated acid mucopolysaccharides.

Structural Differences of the Harderian Gland between Common Pheasants (Phasianus Colchicus Talischensis) and Hybrids of Italian Amber and Common Pheasants

“…Similar results were obtained by Boydak and Aydin (2009) in domestic geese (Anatidae, Anser anser f. domestica), Canadian ostriches (Frahmand & Mohammadpour, 2015), and African black ostriches (Klećkowska-Nawrot et al, 2015), and also by Kozlu et al (2010) in osprey (Pandionidae, Pandion haliaetus). The average size of lobes of turkeys and chickens, measured by Dimitrov (2011), is larger compared with the common pheasant and the hybrid.…”

“…The histochemical analysis in the present study showed that the HG of both common pheasants and hybrids secreted neutral glycoproteins, as well as acidic sialylated glycoproteins and carboxylated acid mucopolysaccharides. Similar results were obtained with adult domestic geese (Anatidae, Anser anser f. domestica) (Boydak & Aydin, 2009;Liman & Gülmez, 1996), mallard ducks (Anatidae, Anas sterillis) (Dimitrov & Nikiforov, 2005), Canadian ostriches (Frahmand & Mohammadpour, 2015) and African black ostriches (Klećkowska-Nawrot et al, 2015). In native chickens (Phasianidae, Gallus gallus f. domestica), all epithelial cells of the corpus glandulae and duct system reacted positively to neutral mucopolysaccharides and were positive in AB pH 2.5 staining (Mobini, 2012).…”

“…Likewise, the HG of the native chicken (Phasianidae, Gallus gallus f. domestica) is covered with a thin capsule of adipose tissue (Mobini, 2012). The present study indicated that both examined birds presented the first type of gland, similarly to Canadian ostriches (Struthionidae, Struthio domesticus) (Frahmand & Mohammadpour, 2015), domestic fowl (Phasianidae, Gallus gallus f. domestica) (Burns, 1992), and African black ostriches (Struthionidae, Struthio camelus domesticus) (Klećkowska-Nawrot et al, 2015). Dimitrov also measured the HG of adult (Numididae, Numida meleagris meleagris) and common pheasant (Phasianidae, Phasianus colchicus colchicus) (Dimitrov, 2012;Dimitrov, 2014).…”

“…The HG produces lacrimal fluid; hence, the main function of this gland is to lubricate the surface of the eyeball and third eyelid (Baba et al, 1990). This gland is also as a source of pheromones and growth factors (Frahmand & Mohammadpour, 2015;Khan et al, 2007;Kozlu & Altunay, 2011;Klećkowska-Nawrot et al, 2015). Furthermore in birds, the HG is a lymphoepithelial organ which, together with the spleen, the bursa of Fabricius, and the caecal tonsils, belongs to a system of avian organs that determines both general and local immunity (Khan et al, 2007;Nasrin et al, 2013).…”

Histological, histochemical and ultrastructural studies on Harderian and lacrimal glands of the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus majorL.)

“…In the histological examination, the HG in the Capercaillie was defined as a type 1 tubulo-alveolar gland, according to Burns [9], with numerous plasma cells as described in other birds species [4,9,25]. Numerous lymphocytes and plasma cells were found in the peripheral lobular interstitium, interstitium between alveoli as well as the tertiary and secondary ducts of the HG.…”