Morphological, Histological and Histochemical Studies on the Gizzard of Post-natal Haringhata Black Chickens
Rupam Malakar *
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata-700037, India.
Partha Das
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata-700037, India.
Nirmal Kumar Tudu
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata-700037, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Breed and age-specific information on the postnatal gizzard of Haringhata Black chickens is limited.
Aims: The present research was carried out to explore the morphological, morphometric, histological and histochemical aspects and localisation of mast cells in the gizzard of Haringhata Black chickens.
Study Design: The investigation was carried out on 60 Haringhata Black chickens divided into five groups, viz. day-old, 15-day-old, 30-day-old, 45-day-old and 60-day-old birds, with six birds of each sex in each age group.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata-700037, India, between June 2022 and January 2023.
Methodology: A total of 60 Haringhata Black chickens aged 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days, comprising 6 birds of each sex in each age group, were sacrificed and the gizzards were examined for gross morphological and morphometric studies. Portions of the gizzard were fixed in normal buffered formalin and later processed and prepared for histological and histochemical studies.
Results: The gizzard of the Haringhata Black chicken was a highly muscular, dark-brown, biconvex, lens-like organ covered by a considerable amount of fat. It was made up of four tunics: mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa. The mucosal epithelium reacted positively to PAS-AB staining, indicating the presence of acidic and neutral mucins. A thick cornified layer, the koilin, lined the lumen of the gizzard, covered the mucous layer externally and showed moderate reactivity to PAS-AB stain. A distinct lamina muscularis was absent in the tunica mucosa of the gizzard of Haringhata Black chickens. The submucosa was composed of loose connective tissue, mainly collagen fibres. Mast cells were noticed within the connective tissue fibres in this layer. The tunica muscularis was very thick and organised in three layers: the inner oblique layer, the thick intermediate circular layer and an outer longitudinal layer. The outer serosa was typical and rich in blood vessels and nerves.
Conclusion: The study provides information on the gross morphology, morphometry, histology and histochemical characteristics of the gizzard of the Haringhata Black chicken at different developmental stages. The observations of the present study may serve as useful baseline data for future studies on the developmental anatomy, comparative morphology, physiology and pathological alterations of the gizzard in Haringhata Black chickens and other indigenous chicken breeds.
Keywords: Haringhata Black chicken, gizzard, ventriculus, gross morphology, morphometry, histology, koilin, mast cells.