Abstract

The present study was envisaged to explore the histoarchitecture of the proventriculus of broiler chicks at different ages. In every age group, proventriculus had all four tunics i.e., mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa. The luminal surface of the mucosa presented folds of varied heights called plicae, separated by depressions, sulci. The folds had simple columnar epithelium but became cuboidal type towards the bases of the sulci. The cells of these folds showed strong positive activity for the presence of glycogen, acidic mucopolysaccharides, hyaluronic acid, sialomucins, mucins and proteins. The plicae experienced a higher response to various mucopolysaccharides than the bases of the sulci. The lamina propria mucosae had loose irregular connective tissue and showed lymphoid infiltrations in birds of all age groups. Lamina muscularis mucosae was interrupted and present in the form of only a few widely placed smooth muscle fibres. Within the tunica submucosa, the proventricular glands were present. The PAS activity for different mucopolysaccharides and proteins was observed only in primary ducts whereas the secondary and tertiary ducts were devoid of the activity. Tunica muscularis presented an inner thin oblique layer, middle thick circular layer and outermost longitudinal to oblique layer of smooth muscle fibres. Thickness of proventriculus was drastically increased with the advancement of age because of increased glands; however, the thickness of layers of tunica muscularis was not much increased

Keywords:Proventriculus; Simple columnar epithelium; Broilers; Mucopolysaccharides