The present study was conducted on ten each uropygial glands of 6 to 8 months old healthy
Kadaknath and White Leghorn breeds of poultry. The tissue samples were stained by H and E for
normal histological structures, Verhoeff’s stain for collagen and elastic fibers, PAS (Periodic Acid
Schiff’s) for glycogen and Alcian Blue PAS method for acid mucopolysaccharides. The uropygial
gland in Kadaknath and White Leghorn was composed of two lobes. Each lobe had a single duct
and these ducts were joined together by isthmus. The thickness of capsule was more in White
Leghorn than Kadaknath breed. The lumen of tubules showed higher concentration of secretary
product in Kadaknath breed. Numbers of tubules were higher in Kadaknath. No aggregation of
lymphocytes was found in the preen gland of White Leghorn, whereas in Kadaknath, there was
large number of lymphocytes aggregation alongwith lymphatic nodules. Melanin pigmentation was
the characteristic feature of Kadaknath which was found towards the central cavity and in between
ductules. The capsule of White Leghorn showed intense PAS activity, while moderate activity was
found in Kadaknath breed of poultry. Intense ACPase reaction was noticed in capsule of uropygial
gland of Kadaknath and White Leghorn breeds of poultry.
The gross anatomical study of thymus and bursa of Fabricius was carried out on 30 Kadaknath
birds of different age groups ranging from day old to 26 week. The birds were divided into five equal
groups according to age as day old to 2 week, 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 8 weeks, 8 to 16 weeks and
16 to 26 weeks, each consisted of six birds. The shape, colour and location were observed. The
thymus gland in Kadaknath consisted of two long chains having 6-8 irregular shaped lobes. The
shape and color of thymic lobes as well as length and width of thymus varied amongst groups.
Grossly there was no regression of thymus after 26th week of age. The bursa of Fabricius was located
on the dorsal wall of proctodeum of cloaca. The shape and color of bursa of Fabricius varied amongst
age groups. Grossly there was complete regression of bursa after 25th week of age. The
dissimilarities in these findings might be due to species difference.
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