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

Abstract

Harderian gland, histology, histochemistry, common pheasant, hybrid of Italian amber and common pheasant. ABStRACtThe aim of the present study was to demonstrate the histological and histochemical structure of the Harderian gland in wild and hybrid of wild and domestic birds. The samples were stained with haematoxylin-eosin, methyl green-pyronin Y, periodic acid-Schiff, alcian blue pH 2.5, aldehyde fuchsin and Hale's dialyzed iron staining's. In both species, the glands had multilobar tubuloacinar structure type I. The Harderian gland was located in the orbit near the inter-orbital septum, between the medial rectus muscle, the pyramidal muscle of the third eyelid, and the ventral oblique muscle. In the common pheasant, the gland was wider in the proximal and distal part. The common pheasant had more elongated lobes of the Harderian gland than in the hybrid. In the common pheasant, the glandular cells presented darkly-stained serous secretion and lightly-stained mucous secretion. In the hybrid, the glandular cells presented seromucous secretion. The central lobar space, interacinar space, and apical parts of the acini of the Harderian glands were filled with many lymphocytes and plasma cells, particularly in the common pheasant, where centers of all large lobes were abundantly filled with plasma cells. The plasma cells dominated in common pheasant's Harderian gland, while in the hybrid, lymphocytes and plasma cells were present at similar quantities. The cells positive for periodic acid of Schiff staining were dominant in hybrid. Periodic acid-Schiff, Hale's dialyzed iron and alcian blue pH 2.5 stainings demonstrated acid-carboxylated mucopolysaccharides in the glandular cells cytoplasm of the examined birds.

Morphological and functional relationship between the orbital gland and olfaction in Upupa epops (hoopoe) and Bubulcus ibis (cattle egret)

“…Burns and Maxwell (1979) provided an excellent account of the anatomical and histological structure of the lacrimal gland in three bird species: Gallus domesticus L (fowl), Meleagris gallopavo L (turkeys) and Anas platyrhynchos L (ducks); in all three species, the lacrimal gland has the same anatomical location, i. e., on the dorsolateral angle of the orbit. Some birds species, such as Meleagris gallopavo (turkey) (Dimitrov, 2011), capercaillie (Klećkowska-Nawrot et al, 2015, 2016, ostrich, Strutheio camelus (Reem & Khattab, 2018) and Athene noctua (little owl) (Shawki et al, 2019) have the same location of the lacrimal gland; this is consistent with the findings of the present study. The location of the lacrimal gland in hoopoe is consistent with that of little owl, fowl and capercaillie.…”

“…Some birds species, such as Meleagris gallopavo (turkey) (Dimitrov, 2011), capercaillie (Klećkowska‐Nawrot et al, 2015, 2016), ostrich, Strutheio camelus (Reem & Khattab, 2018) and Athene noctua (little owl) (Shawki et al, 2019) have the same location of the lacrimal gland; this is consistent with the findings of the present study. The location of the lacrimal gland in hoopoe is consistent with that of little owl, fowl and capercaillie.…”

“…O'Malley (2005) reported that the lacrimal gland empties into the nasolacrimal duct via dorsal and ventral puncta. In certain bird species such as capercaillie and ostrich (Klećkowska‐Nawrot et al, 2015, 2016), the lacrimal gland secretes their tears through multiple ducts and opens into the conjunctival space beneath the lower eyelid. The present study found that the lacrimal gland of hoopoe empties its secretions through a single duct that opens into the posterior nasal aperture through nasolacrimal duct.…”

“…However, there is little information about the structure and functions of the lacrimal glands; with only few publications available (i.e. Klećkowska‐Nawrot et al, 2016; O'Malley, 2005; Shawki et al, 2019; Williams, 1994).…”

“…anatomical and histological techniques, cattle egret, Harderian gland, hoopoe, olfactory, orbital glands there is little information about the structure and functions of the lacrimal glands; with only few publications available (i.e. Klećkowska-Nawrot et al, 2016;O'Malley, 2005;Shawki et al, 2019;Williams, 1994).…”