STRUCTUREAND POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT OF MAGNUM IN JAPANESE QUAIL (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract

Postnatal development of the magnum in the coturnix quail was carried out using 72 quail chicks from day-old to 60 days of age. Different segments of the oviduct were not clear in day-old subjects. The portion of oviduct corresponding to the future magnum consisted of Iow primary mucosal folds lined by simple columnar epithelium and subepithelial connective tissue. Rapid growth of the organ took place between 30 and 40 days of age. At 50 days of age, the wall of the magnum was markedly thicker due to the intense development of the tubular glands in the lamina propria. The epithelium consisted of ciliated columnar cells and goblet cells. Tubular glands showed pyramidal secretory cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and basal spherical nucleus. Musculature was very thin and consisted of circularly arranged fibres. Magnum was the longest and the most coiled segment of the quail oviduct.