Age effect on lymphoid tissue present in Esophagus and Meckel’s diverticulum in growing chickens

Abdel Aleem, Reham Haider; Lashen, Samah; Abdelmaksoud, Ahmed; Marei, Hany

doi:10.21608/mvmj.2021.98166.1086

Age effect on lymphoid tissue present in Esophagus and Meckel’s diverticulum in growing chickens

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ Cytology and histology department, faculty of vet. Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

² Department of Cytology and histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura , Egypt

³ Department of Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt

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

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