Plasma cells in the avian Harderian gland and the morphology of the gland in the rook

Abstract

Plasma cells occur in the Harderian glands of 32 species of birds investigated. They are found in the interstitium of the gland among the primary and secondary tubules. In the fowl, quail, and turkey and to a much lesser extent in the duck, their numbers increase with age. Other cells of the lymphoid series were only rarely seen. Foci of lymphocytes were encountered in few Harderian glands. Mott cells (Russell-body-containing plasma cells) occur among the plasma cells of all avian Harderian glands. Their numbers follow the pattern of plasma cell numbers.The rook Harderian gland has been studied and compared with other avian Harderian glands of similar morphology. Macroscopically it is a uniform structure but histologically it is composed of two lobule types. Type I lobules are compound tubuloacinar structures with a large plasma cell population in the interstitium. Type II lobules are compound tubular and have no plasma cells. The rook Harderian gland forms the "type specimen" for a third category of avian Harderian glands. The other two kinds may be compared with that of the fowl (type I) and with that of the duck (type II).

The Fine Structure of the Harderian Gland in the Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

“…In the subepithelial region of the gland in many avian species plasma cells are present in high numbers. For this reason, the Harderian gland of avian species became the most extensively studied immunologically important gland (Burns, 1975; Survashe and Aitken, 1978; Scott et al., 1993). Wight et al.…”

The lymphoid substance of the chicken's Harderian gland is organized in two histologically distinct compartments

“…23). DISCUSSION The avian immunologists dealing with the HG generally have emphasized the plasmacytic infiltration of the stroma (Bang and Bang, 1968;Burns, 1975;Dohms et al, 1981;Wright et al, 1971). Some electron microscopic, comparative histological, and immunological studies have mentioned the presence of lymphocyte accumulations or even germinal centers in the HG, but these papers did not receive satisfactory attention.…”

“…The lymphoid tissue of the upper part of the respiratory tract includes paraocular and nasal lymphoid structures as well as some lymphoid accumulations in the pharynx and larynx which are histologically identical with the BALT. However, paraocular lymphoid tissue, which is actually the Harderian gland (HG), produces tremendous numbers of plasma cells accumulating in the stroma of the gland during the first 3 weeks of life (Bang and Bang, 1968; Burns, 1975; Scott et al, 1993; Wright et al, 1971). The secretion of the HG drains into the upper respiratory tract, where it provides local protection by secretory antibodies (Devalaar et al, 1982; Dohms et al, 1981; Mueller et al, 1971; Olah et al, 1991).…”

Plasma Cells Expressing Immunoglobulins M and A but not Immunoglobulin G Develop an Intimate Relationship with Central Canal Epithelium in the Harderian Gland of the Chicken

“…These findings were confirmed by light and electron microscopic studies (Wight et ah, 1971;Rothwell et al, 1972;Burns, 1975;Aitken and Survashe, 1977;Schramm, 1980;Zicca et al, 1982;Maxwell et al, 1986). The number of plasma cells was dependent on the bursa of Fabricius (Mueller et al, 1971;Sundick et al, 1973;Glick, 1978;Kowalski et al, 1978) and was age-dependent (Wight et al, 1971;Glick, 1978;Maxwell et al, 1986;Koch and Jongenelen, 1987;Jeurissen el al., 1989).…”