@article { author = {Abdel Aleem, Reham and Lashen, Samah and Abdelmaksoud, Ahmed and Marei, Hany}, title = {Age effect on lymphoid tissue present in Esophagus and Meckel’s diverticulum in growing chickens}, journal = {Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {-}, year = {2021}, publisher = {Mansoura University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine}, issn = {1110-7219}, eissn = {2682-2512}, doi = {10.21608/mvmj.2021.98166.1086}, abstract = {Objective: To determine the effect of age on lymphoid tissue structures of esophagus and Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) as members of gut associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) in post hatching chicken.Design: Descriptive study.Samples: Esophagus and Meckel’s diverticulum of broiler chicken at age of 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 10th and 12th weeks of age were used.Procedure: Broiler chicks were fed with normal basal diet. The birds were slaughtered at 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 10th and 12th weeks of age (3-5 birds per time). For histological examination, tissue specimens of esophagus and MD were collected immediately after slaughtering of birds. Hygienic measures were taken to protect the chicken from diseases. Therefore, no pathological alternations in esophagus and MD were seen during the experiment.Results: The proximal part of esophagus contains dispersed lymphocytes, which increase and develop by increasing age to form diffuse lymphatic tissue and solitary lymphatic nodule. At the junction of esophagus and proventriculus, the lymphatic tissue appeared early and increased in thickness and spread in between the submucosal glands of proventriculus.MD appeared as lymphoid organ due to high content of lymphatic tissue.Conclusion: Our study indicates that esophagus contains considerable amount of diffuse lymphocytes that increase in number by increasing of chicken age. Also MD could be considered a lymphoid organ in advanced age}, keywords = {esophagus,MD,lymphocyte,histology,chickens}, url = {https://mvmj.journals.ekb.eg/article_199894.html}, eprint = {} }