Morphological aspects of the ovary of Columba livia (Gmelin) (Columbidae, Columbiformes)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The study of the female genital system of Colt/mba /ivia (Gmelin, 1789) is part of the research on the reproductive biology of Brazilian birds. This work describes the morphological aspects of the ovary of Coillmba livia, as well as the histological differences observed in the ovarian follicles during the ovocyte maturation process. Ten Coillmba Jivia females were studied, whose ovaries had been dissected, fixed in Bouin and Helly solutions, and histologically processed for staining (Hematoxylin-Eosin; Gomori's trichromic and Weigert's technique and Gomor;'s technique for connective tissue fibers). The ovary has an irregular surface. is located in the abdominal cavity, and relates to the cranial portion of the left kidney and caudal extremity of the left lung. Histological examination shows that the ovary is covered with simple cubical epithelium, underlined by loose connective tissue that continues internally, surrounding the follicles. The ovarian follicles were described. in their different stages of development. with basis on the morphological changes occurring in the ovocyte and in the layers that surround it, in each phase of maturation. Among the follicles, groups lof cells of two distinct types. surrounded by connective tissue, are observable: clear cells with a spherical nucleus, and acidophilic cells with a slightly elongated nucleus. The studies of the ovary of Coilimba livia reveal histological similarities between this species and Coillmhina la/pacoli (Temminck,1811), whose ovaries were examined by RIBEIRO el al. (1991).

Age Related Histomorphochemical Changes in Ovaries of Punjab White Quail

“…The medulla was comprised of loose connective tissue, smooth muscles and large number of blood vessels, fibers, lymph vessels and lacunar channels as reported earlier by Ribeiro [18] in pigeon. With advancing age, these lacunar channels increased and became wider as reported earlier by Gonzalez Moran [19] in chicken.…”

“…At 8 weeks of age, there was clear cut demarcation between cortex and medulla ( Figure 1). Similarly, Ribeiro [18] reported that before the gonadal maturation, there were two distinct regions in the ovary: the cortex, a peripheral region where the follicles were found and the medulla region, more central and made of loose connective tissue intensely vascularized and presenting nervous fibers and some smooth muscular fibers in pigeon. At 16 weeks, cortex started to interact with sub cortical medulla (Figure 2).…”

“…At 24 weeks and 30 weeks, tunica albuginea was not found (Figure 16). Similarly, Ribeiro [18] reported in pigeon that the tunica albuginea got slimmer and the cortical and medulla regions were not distinguished as the gonadal maturation started. …”

DESCRIÇÃO DA ARTÉRIA CELÍACA EM POMBOS DOMÉSTICOS (Columba livia)

“…A espécie Columba livia, em específico, é bastante encontrada em países da América do Sul, tais como Brasil, Bolívia, Chile e Peru (RIBEIRO et al, 1995).…”

“…O estudo dos pombos é importante por diversos aspectos: 1) ecológicos, por serem aves onívoras que habitam diversos ambientes, inclusive grandes cidades; 2) sociais, por entupirem calhas, apodrecerem forros de madeira e causarem danos a monumentos históricos e pinturas de carros; 3) epidemiológicos, por alojarem parasitas e transmitirem doenças como Toxoplasmose, Criptococose, Ornitose, Histoplasmose e Salmonelose, além de dermatites (RIBEIRO et al, 1995).…”