MORPHOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE CHIMANGO CARACARA´S Milvago chimango UROPYGIAL GLAND

CHIALE MC; MONTALTI D; FERNÁNDEZ PE; FLAMINI MA; GIMENO EJ; BARBEITO CG

BIOTECHNIC AND HISTOCHEMISTRY

INFORMA HEALTHCARE

Lugar: London; Año: 2015

1052-0295

The uropygial glands of birds are sebaceous organs that contribute to the water-repellent properties of the feather coat. We studied the histological and histochemical characteristics of the uropygial gland of chimango caracara using hematoxylin and eosin (H & E), Gomori´s trichrome, orcein, Gomori´s reticulin, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Alcian blue (AB) and a variety of lectins. The gland is composed of two lobes and a papilla with 20 downy feathers. It is surrounded by a capsule of dense connective tissue that contains elastic, reticular and smooth muscle fibers. The papilla is delicate and has two excretory ducts. The relative gland mass was 0.143%. [Q: Relative to what and to what does % refer?] Both adenomer cells and their secretion were stained with Sudan IV, PAS and AB, and were positive for numerous lectins, which indicates the presence of lipids and carbohydrates. Immunohistochemical techniques to detect PCNA confirmed cell proliferation in the basal stratum of the adenomer cells. The lipids and glycoconjugates secreted by the uropygial gland serve numerous functions including protection against microorganisms.