HISTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE ESOPHAGUS OF THE WILD BRONZE TURKEY (MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the thoracic part of the esophagus in the bronze turkey, using Masson’s trichrome stain and Alcian blue-PAS staining. Thirty-six clinically healthy bronze turkeys (eighteen males and eighteen females) were studied. The groups of the birds were at age 1, 7, 14, 28, 35 and 49 days. Each group consisted of three male and three female birds. The histological features of the organ were similar in the studied groups. It consisted of tunica mucosa, tunica submucosa, tunica muscularis, and tunica serosa. There were no specifics in the organ regarding the sex and the age of the birds. The esophageal glands in all of the studied groups, demonstrated intensive PAS and AB reaction, because of the mucous, produced by the epithelial glandular cells. Lamina propria exhibited a weak PAS reaction, visible in all ages, either in males, either in females.

Keywords

• bronze turkey
• esophagus
• histochemistry
• glands