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Comparative anatomical, histological and histochemical study of the pancreas in two species of birds

Hani M.Hamodi, Ali A.Abed, Ameer M.Taha

The purpose of this study was to determine the anatomical characteristics and histological structure as well assome histochemical aspects of the pancreas of two species of birds, which differ in theirclassification, habitat, nutrition and activity by using a light microscope. The birds were omnivorous Guineafowl Numida meleagris and carnivorous Common gull Laruscanus. The results showed that the pancreas of the two species of birds was a bilobed organ, it differed in size, color and appearance. The pancreas tissue of the two birds was consisted of exocrine and endocrine part. The exocrine part in the both birds arecomposed of acini, ducts and it occupied a larger area of the pancreas. The aciniare varied in shapes in the both birds. These aciniconsisted of a single layer of variable number of different shapes cells that are differing in their thickness between the two species. The ductal system of the exocrine part of the pancreas in both birds included the intercalated ducts, intralobular ductsand interlobular ducts thatdiffered in their number, size and distribution between the two species. The endocrine part of the both birds areconsisted of various shapes and sizes of the islets thatwere scattered in the exocrine part, these islets are composed from alpha (A) and beta (B) cells. The mixed islets that consist of A and B cells, alpha islets and beta isletsare observed inGuineafowlwhereas,in the Common gull, themixed isletswere the only type observed and the islets in this bird are smallerand are less densely populatedthan the islets inGuineafowl. In conclusion the anatomicalfeaturesand histological structure of Guineafowl and Common gullpancreas was found to besimilar to that of other avian species with the exception of some secondary characteristics.