Differentiation of the body cavities and air sacs of Gallus domesticus post mortem and their location in vivo

The positions of the air sacs and body cavities are described in relation to post‐mortem techniques and injection procedures. Certain modifications are recommended.     

Histochemical identification of tissue eosinophils in the inflammatory response of the fowl (Gallus domesticus)

A staining technique was developed for the differential identification of tissue eosinophil and heterophil leucocytes in the fowl. Pieces of formalin-fixed skin, challenged with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) or citraconic anhydride (CA), were incubated in a substrate suitable for peroxidase prior to embedding in either paraffin wax, glycol methacrylate or Araldite. This results in deep brown staining of the eosinophil granules while those of the heterophils remain unstained. Heterophils and eosinophils were conspicuous at 30 minutes after challenge in the early inflammatory response. By 48 hours the heterophilic response had diminished and eosinophils had almost disappeared. Only mononuclear cells were seen at 72 hours. It is suggested that the eosinophil leucocyte might act as an early modulator of inflammation in delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in the fowl.     

Mast cells in the ovary of Gallus gallus domesticus

1. Histamine or mast cells are involved in mammalian ovary function. Their role in the avian ovary is not known. In the present study mast cell distribution in the ovary of the domestic fowl was studied. 2. Mast cells were distributed throughout the ovary, both in the stroma of medullary and cortical regions as well as in the thecae of normal and atretic follicles. In the stroma, mast cells were especially abundant in the area just below the germinal epithelium (GE) and followed the contours of the GE. 3. In the follicles, mast cells were more obvious in the thecae of small non-yolky follicles, whereas they were compressed and scattered in the larger yolky follicles. They were more frequently seen in the theca externa than in the theca interna and in their ultrastructure showed characteristic mast cell granules. 4. Some of the atretic follicles showed increased mast cells in their thecae. Postovulatory follicles had very few mast cells. 5. The possible role of the mast cells in the ovarian activity of domestic fowl is discussed.     

The chromosome number of Gallus domesticus.

1. Chromosome counts were made on 105 spermatogonial and diakinesis cells prepared from testicular tissue taken from 10 hybrid cockerels. 2. The modal numbers for the diploid chromosome and haploid chromosome complements were 78 and 39 respectively.     

Long-term vasoligation in the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus)

The effects of long-term (14 months) unilateral vasoligation on the tests and their excurrent ducts of the domestic fowl were studied histologically and ultrastructurally. Severe testicular degeneration and epididymal atrophy were observed in the ipsilateral organs while the contralateral control organs were normal. Massive macrophage activity was observed in the epididymal regions and to a lesser extent in some severely degenerated seminiferous tubules. Several granulomata occurred in the epididymal regions and the ducti deferentes, and most were resorbed or were undergoing resorption at the time of examination.     

Taste preference in the chicken (Gallus domesticus L.)

Taste preferences in Brown Leghorn hens were studied in a choice situation. The preference for sodium, potassium and calcium chlorides, hydrochloric and acetic acids, and glucose, fructose and sucrose were determined by the presentation of the solution for 3 min periods in nipple drinkers together with water in identical drinkers. A significant preference was shown to 5% sucrose and to all the other solutions the birds were indifferent or showed various degrees of rejection. Using the same technique it was found that the additions of glucose rendered acetic acid less aversive and the addition to it of sodium chloride made the acetic acid more aversive.

The length of the EEG arousal pattern was measured following oral presentation of distilled water or a chemical solution. It was found that repeated presentation of distilled water led to habituation and that the orienting reflex could be elicited by the presentation of a stimulating chemical in place of the water. Using this technique the chemical concentrations to which the hens appeared to be indifferent were investigated. It was found that whereas many of the solutions that resulted in the hens giving no behavioural response also gave no EEG response, some e.g. 0.05 M and 0.1 M acetic and hydrochloric acids, gave pronounced EEG responses without concomitant behavioural responses.     

The lingual taste buds of Gallus domesticus L

The so‐called “ taste buds “ of the chicken were examined. It was found that they had one or more pores and were composed of a single cell type. There was a nerve plexus at the base of the bud giving rise to fibres which entered the bud. The cells showed acetyl cholinesterase activity and were found to degenerate following denervation. Thus they closely parallel, in both structure and neural dependency, the taste buds in other vertebrates and it is concluded that they probably are true taste buds.     

Multiple perineuriomas in chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Intraneural perineurioma is an extremely rare condition characterized by perineurial cell proliferation within peripheral nerve (PN) sheaths. In the veterinary field, this entity has been reported only in a dog. We examined multiple enlargements of PNs in 11 chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) (9 Japanese bantams and 2 specific pathogen-free White Leghorn), which were inoculated with an avian leukosis virus (ALV) causing so-called fowl glioma. All chickens clinically exhibited progressive leg paralysis. Lumbosacral plexus, brachial plexus, and/or spinal ganglion were commonly affected, and these nerves contained a diffuse proliferation of spindle cells arranged concentrically in characteristic onion bulb-like structures surrounded by residual axons and myelin sheaths. The spindle cells were immunohistochemically negative for S-100alpha/beta protein. Electron microscopy revealed that these cells were characterized by short bipolar cytoplasmic processes, occasional cytoplasmic pinocytotic vesicles, and discontinuous basal laminae. These features are consistent with those of intraneural perineurioma. Furthermore, the specific sequence of the ALV was detected in the PN lesions of 8/11 (73%) birds by polymerase chain reaction. These results indicate that the multiple intraneural perineuriomas of chicken may be associated with the ALV-A causing fowl glioma.     

Changes in the tubular compartment of the testis of Gallus domesticus during development

1.?The aim of the present study was to analyze histological and stereological changes in the tubular compartment in Gallus domesticus testes, as well as the variations in the number and size of their cells, from the start of morphological differentiation of the gonads (8-d chick-embryo) until the adult reproductive stage (28 weeks old).

2.?In embryonic chick testes, the total volume occupied by the interstitial tissue is greater than that occupied by the tubular compartment, but in the post-hatched chick the total volume of tubular compartment exceeds that of the interstitial tissue.

3.?From day 1 until 28 weeks of age, the seminiferous tubules increased in total volume, diameter, and epithelial height, which was directly related to the increase in the number of Sertoli and germ cells and the size of Sertoli cells.

4.?In the testes of one-day- and 6-week-old chicks, Sertoli cells were the most abundant cell type in the seminiferous tubules due to hyperplasia, but in 28-week-old birds the germ cells were the most abundant cell type. Hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia of Sertoli cells appears to be responsible for the increase in the total volume of seminiferous tubules.

5.?There are marked age-dependent changes in the tubular compartment of chick testes that help to understand the histological and stereological events occurring during normal development.     

Gallus gallus domesticus: Paratenic host of Angiostrongylus vasorum

Angiostrongylus vasorum, a parasite of the cardiorespiratory system in canids, has a heteroxenous biological cycle in which the intermediate hosts are terrestrial and aquatic mollusks. Generally, canids become infected by ingesting the intermediate host or paratenic hosts, such as amphibians, that contain infective larvae (L3). However, there are no reports of birds as paratenic hosts of A. vasorum. To evaluate the susceptibility and viability of Gallus gallus domesticus as a paratenic host of A. vasorum, 17 Cobb chickens were randomly divided into two groups. The animals in group A were inoculated with third stage larvae of A. vasorum, and those in group B ate snails inoculated with A. vasorum L3. At 30 days post-infection, the chickens were killed, and the muscles and organs were placed in a pepsin–HCl solution (1% HCl (37%), 1% pepsin) for 3 h in an oven at 40 °C to recover the L3. In group A, 1863 L3 were recovered per chicken. In group B, 2585 L3 were recovered. A dog that ingested organs and tissues from a chicken from group A released first-stage larvae of A. vasorum in its feces 51 days after infection; the dynamics of this process were monitored for 107 days, when treatment with 25 mg fenbendazole/kg body weight was performed for 21 days. Chickens nourished with infected snails or with infective L3 may be a source of infection for dogs indicate that G. gallus is a potential paratenic host for this parasite.