Histomorphological Comparative Study of the Adrenal Glands in Local Guinea Fowl (Numida Meleagris) and Muscovy duck (Cairina Moschata Domestica)

Abstract

    The thorough concept of histomorphology of adrenal glands might incompletely be advanced via a comparative histochemical study on the avian class's different representatives. Thus, this study was aimed to examine this particular portion of the histological features of the adrenal glands in the local Guinea fowl Numida meleagris and Muscovy duck Cairina moschata domestica. Ten adult birds, each of Guinea fowl and Muscovy duck were used in this study. Anatomically, in both birds, the adrenal gland showed a small paired structure lying in the celomic cavity placed on each side alongside the cranial ends of the kidneys. The left gland was triangular whilst the right gland was elongated, and the color varies from yellowish to reddish-yellow. Histologically, the gland was surrounded by a connective tissue capsule sending thin trabeculae to enter the parenchymal glandular tissues. The glandular interstitial tissue was rich in blood vessels, and sinusoids. The parenchyma showed cortical tissues intermingled with the medullary cells. The cortical tissue was separated into the peripheral/subcapsular zone and inner/central zone. The subcapsular zone was located close to the capsular area and organized in the mesh of arch-like cords, while the central zone showed straight and curved cords with columnar cells. These zones were intermingled with the basophilic medullary cells that are termed chromaffin. The obtained data in the current study is assumed to contribute to understanding the histomorphological structures of the local Guinea fowl and Muscovy duck adrenal glands.