Age Related Changes in the Cellular Population and Lymphoid Tissue in the Harderian Gland of Turkey

Khayoon, Ektifaa S.; Reshag, Ali F.; Almayahi, M. S.; Al-Saffar, F. J.

doi:10.21608/eajbsd.2019.56517

Age Related Changes in the Cellular Population and Lymphoid Tissue in the Harderian Gland of Turkey

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Anatomy and Histology / Veterinary Medicine College / University of Baghdad /Iraq

² Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

10.21608/eajbsd.2019.56517

Abstract

The aim of the current investigation was to identify the cellular changes of the cell populations positioned within the connective tissue of the harderian glands in Turkeys at different ages extended from one day hatched offspring till the age of seven months. To conduct such research, 50 specimens of harderian glands from the above-dated ages of turkey were collected. Post euthanasia and dissection of the birds, specimens were cut and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and Bouin’s solution. The subsequent routine histological technique was made on these specimens such as dehydration, clearing, paraffin embedding, block preparation, and sectioning. Tissue sections were obtained and stained with different stains such as hematoxylin-eosin, Masson’s trichrome, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue (AB).
Microscopic findings showed connective tissue of the harderian gland was populated by three types of cells that were heterophils, lymphocytes and plasma cells. The incidence of each of these cells was changed with advance of the age. During the growth of the birds, a gradual shift was taking place in the domination of these three cell types. The lymphoid nodules were detected only in 40 days old poults, whilst in adult birds the harderian glands were contained the largest number of mature plasma cells. Some plasma cells enclosed distinctly Russell bodies with different sizes and shapes. In conclusion, 4 weeks aged turkeys developed lymphoid tissue in the harderian gland which is a critical age for vaccination in this avian species.

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