Morphological analysis of testis of the guinea fowl ( Numida meleagris ) under tropical savannah climate of India / Análisis morfológico de testículos de las aves de guinea ( Numida meleagris ) bajo el clima de la sabana tropical de la India

The present study aimed to document the seasonal variations in the testicular morphology of the adult guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) under tropical savannah climate of India. The study was conducted in 24 adult healthy guinea cocks. The testes were ovoid in shape throughout the year. The consistency of the testes was moderately firm with great resilience and creamy white in colour during summer and monsoon-I whereas soft in consistency and dull white to yellowish tinge in colour during monsoon-II and winter seasons. The testicular weight, length, width, thickness, volume and circumference were higher during summer and monsoon I than the winter and monsoon II seasons. The mean body weight of the birds did not show significant difference among the seasons. The testicular weight, length, width, thickness, volume and circumference were higher during the summer and monsoon I than the winter and least during monsoon II in the current study. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) and paired testicular weight were high and showed no significant difference during the summer and monsoon-I whereas during winter and monsoon-II, the values were low and showed significant difference between them. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules and its lumen, the diameter of the sustentacular cells (Sertoli cells) were much higher during summer and Monsoon I than winter and monsoon II seasons. The percentage area of interstitial cells and the thickness of the testicular capsule appeared less during the summer and monsoon I seasons. The decreased size of seminiferous tubules, increased amount of cellular debris in the tubular lumen, degenerating germ cells and collapse of seminiferous tubules observed during monsoon II and winter in the present study.

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo documentar las variaciones estacionales en la morfología testicular de la gallina de Guinea (Numida meleagris) en el clima de la sabana tropical de la India. El estudio se realizó en 24 gallos adultos sanos de Guinea. Los testículos fueron ovoidedurante todo el año. La consistencia de los testículos fue moderadamente firme con gran elasticidad y color blanco cremoso durante el verano y durante el Monzón I, mientras que de consistencia blanda y color blanco pálido a amarillento durante el Monzón II y las temporadas de invierno. El peso testicular, la longitud, el ancho, el grosor, el volumen y la circunferencia fueron más altos durante el verano y el Monzón I en comparación con las temporadas de invierno y Monzón II. El peso corporal medio de las aves no mostró una diferencia significativa entre las estaciones. El peso testicular, la longitud, el ancho, el grosor, el volumen y la circunferencia fueron más altos durante el verano y el Monzón I en comparación con el invierno y menos durante el Monzón II. El índice gonadosomático (GSI) y el peso testicular apareado fue alto y no mostraron diferencias significativas durante el verano y el Monzón I, mientras que durante el invierno y el Monzón II, los valores fueron bajos y mostraron diferencias significativas entre ellos. El diámetro de los túbulos seminíferos y su luz, el diámetro de las células sustentaculares (células de Sertoli) fue mucho mayor durante el verano y el Monzón I que en las estaciones de invierno y el Monzón II. El área de porcentaje de células intersticiales y el grosor de la cápsula testicular aparecieron menos durante las temporadas de verano y Monzón I. Se identificaron en el presente estudio disminución del tamaño de los túbulos seminíferos, el aumento de la cantidad de restos celulares en la luz tubular, la degeneración de las células germinales y el colapso de los túbulos seminíferos observados durante el Monzón II y el invierno.

Morphology of the interstitial tissue of active and resting testis of the Guinea fowl / Morfología del tejido intersticial del testículo activo y en reposo de la gallina de Guinea

SUMMARY: The morphology of the interstitial tissue of sexually active and resting testis of the guinea fowl were studied. Six adult health birds of active and resting phases of reproductive cycle were used for this study. The interstitial tissue consisted of loose connective tissue, interstitial cells (Leydig cells), few connective cells, blood vessels and adrenergic nerve fibres in the present study in both active and resting testes. The interstitial tissue was compact in sexually active testis whereas, the volume of the tissue was found to be increased in resting testis. The loose connective tissue of the interstitial tissue composed of mainly of collagen fibres and few reticular fibres whereas elastic fibres were absent in both groups studied. The interstitial cells appeared in clusters of a few cells and were relatively less in the active testis than the resting testis. The interstitial cells were pale staining or polygonal cells with euchromatic nuclei with few large lipid droplets in the active testis whereas the cells were flat and highly heterochromatic with numerous small lipid droplets in resting testis. Few macrophages were found only in resting testis. Interstitial cells showed negative reaction to alkaline, acid phosphatases and PAS in both groups studied but positive for lipids. The interstitial tissue was well vascularised with centrally located blood vessels in the active testis whereas the blood vessels were small and inconspicuous in the resting testis. The lymphatic vessels were not identified in both groups studied.

RESUMEN: Se estudió la morfología del tejido conectivo intersticial en testículos sexualmente activos y en reposo de la gallina de Guinea (Numida meleagris). Se utilizaron seis gallinas de Guinea machos adultos sanos, en fase activa y de reposo del ciclo reproductivo. El tejido conectivo intersticial estaba formado por tejido conectivo laxo, células endocrinas intersticiales, pocas células conectivas, vasos sanguíneos y fibras nerviosas adrenérgicas, tanto en testículos activos como en reposo. El espacio intertubular en los testículos sexualmente activos era menor en comparación a los del testículos en reposo. El tejido conectivo laxo estaba compuesto principalmente de fibras colágenas y en menor cantidad de fibras reticulares. Las fibras elásticas estaban ausentes en ambos grupos. Las células endocrinas intersticiales se organizaban en racimos de pocas células y se observaban con menor frecuencia en los testículos sexualmente activos. Las células endocrinas intersticiales de los testículos activos presentaban forma poligonal, citoplasma levemente eosinofílico con algunas gotas lipídicas de gran tamaño en su interior y nucleos redondos con cromatina laxa. Las células intersticiales de los testículos en reposo eran planas y altamente heterocromáticas, con numerosas gotas lipídicas pequeñas en su citoplasma. Las células intersticiales mostraron una reacción negativa a las fosfatasas ácidas, alcalinas y PAS en ambos grupos, Sin embargo presentaron reacción positivas para los lípidos. El tejido conectivo intersticial estaba bien vascularizado con vasos sanguíneos situados centralmente en el testículo activo y vasos sanguíneos pequeños y discretos en el testículo en reposo. Los vasos linfáticos no fueron identificados en los dos grupos estudiados.Los macrófagos fueron observados solo en los testículos en reposo, aunque en escasa cantidad.

Anatomopathological findings in captive-raised redwinged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens) / Achados anatomopatológicos em perdizes (Rhynchotus rufescens) criadas em cativeiro

The red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens), a bird from the Tinamidae family, can be easily adapted to captivity. It is considered suitable for producing good quality meat while presenting great feed conversion rate, characteristics that make it interesting for commercial production. Therefore, in order to determine the major diseases that affect these birds, 114 birds from two different aviary types that died over a 12-year period, 1994-2006, were analyzed macro- and microscopically. Anatomical and pathological examinations showed that the most frequently affected systems were the urinary and digestive tracts. In the urinary tract, the main finding was gout, followed by amyloidosis and parasitism by the trematode Paratanaisia confusa. In the digestive tract, the presence of foreign material and parasitism by Capillaria penidoi were observed in the esophagus and crop. This study aims to describe the main anatomical and pathological findings in captive-bred red-winged tinamou and correlate them with the aviary type.(AU)

A perdiz (Rhynchotus rufescens) membro da família Tinamidae é uma ave que apresenta relativa facilidade à adaptação ao cativeiro. É considerada apta à produção de carne de boa qualidade, com ótima conversão alimentar. Essas características a torna interessante para produção comercial. Visando conhecer as principais afecções que acometem essas aves, foram analisados achados macro e microscópicos de 114 perdizes que vieram a óbito ao longo de 12 anos, entre 1994 e 2006 provenientes de criatório experimental, mantidas em dois diferentes tipos de recintos. Os exames anatomopatológicos revelaram que os sistemas mais acometidos foram o urinário e o digestório. No primeiro, a gota úrica foi o principal achado, seguida da amiloidose e parasitismo pelo trematoda Paratanaisia confusa. No sistema digestório, foi observada a presença de corpo estranho e parasitismo por Capillaria penidoi em esôfago e inglúvio. As aves mantidas em alojamento com piso natural apresentaram maior parasitismo, enquanto as que foram mantidas em recinto com piso de concreto e palha apresentaram maior quantidade de corpos estranhos no sistema gastrointestinal, caquexia e amiloidose. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever os principais achados anatomopatológicos em perdizes criadas em cativeiro, correlacionando-os com o tipo de recinto adotado.(AU)

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) in the gastrointestinal tract of the pheasant (Phasianus colchicus).

The distribution of Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) was investigated in the gastrointestinal tract of the pheasant using immunohistochemistry. GLP-1 immunoreactive cells were common in the small intestine, in the proventriculus and in the pancreas. Immunostained cells were not seen in the crop, in the gizzard and in the large intestine. Double labelling demonstrated that GLP-1 and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) were occasionally co-localized only in the duodenal villi. In contrast to what was previously described in the chicken and ostrich, we noted GLP-1 positive cells in the duodenum. These data were consistent with the presence of proglucagon mRNA in the chicken duodenum. Our findings indicate that GLP-1 might have an inhibitory effect on gastric and crop emptying and on acid secretion also in the pheasant. Moreover, the results of the present research regarding the initial region of the small intestine suggest a further direct mechanism of the GLP-1 release during the early digestion phase and an enhancement of its incretin role.

Morphostructural characteristics of three varieties of greybreasted helmeted Guinea fowl in Nigeria / Características morfoestructurales de tres variedades de gallineta de Guinea Pechigris en Nigeria

Three hundred eggs were obtained from settlements around New Bussa, Niger state during the month of August 2006 and transported to Ekiti state by road. 93.33 percent of the three hundred (300) eggs collected were selected for hatching. The eggs were hatched at the aviary unitof Ekiti state Agricultural Development Project, Ikole Ekiti, Nigeria. At hatching the keets were separated on the basis of their plumage colours as shown by the distinct difference in the colour of the downy feathers of the keets into three genotypes, pearl, ash and black. The keets of each genotype were randomly allocated to brooder rooms where they were floor brooded using kerosene stove. The keets were fed with diet containing 24 percent CP, 3000 kcal/kg ME and water ad libitum for the first 8 weeks at the brooder house and fed diets containing 18 percent CP, 2850 kcal/kg ME and water ad libitum for the last phase of the experiment. Measurements were taken every fourteen (14) days on body weight and body linear measurements on shank length, drumstick length, keel length, body girth, body length and wing length. The results showed that the birds demonstrated low body weights and small body size in all the parameters examined.

Trescientos huevos fueron obtenidos de los asentamientos alrededor de Nueva Bussa, estado de Níger durante el mes de agosto de 2006 y transportados por carretera al estado de Ekiti. El 93,33 por ciento de los 300 huevos recolectados fueron seleccionados para su incubación. Los huevos fueron incubados en la unidad de pajarera de estado de Ekiti Proyecto de Desarrollo Agrícola, Ikole Ekiti, Nigeria. En la eclosión, los polluelos fueron separados sobre la base del color de su plumaje, como lo demuestra la clara diferencia en el color de las plumas suaves del polluelo en tres genotipos, perla, ceniza y negro. El polluelo de cada genotipo fue asignado aleatoriamente a habitaciones de crianza donde se calentaba el piso utilizándose una estufa de querosén. Los polluelos fueron alimentados con una dieta que contuvo 24 por ciento PC, 3000 kcal / kg ME y agua ad libitum, durante las primeras 8 semanas, en la unidad criadora y alimentados con dietas que contenían 18 por ciento PC, 2850 kcal / kg ME y agua ad libitum para la última fase del experimento. Las medidas fueron tomadas cada 14 días, éstas fueron: peso corporal y medidas lineales del cuerpo, longitud de la pierna, longitud de la quilla, circunferencia del cuerpo, longitud del cuerpo y longitud del ala. Los resultados evidenciaron que las aves presentaban bajo peso corporal y pequeño tamaño corporal en todos los parámetros examinados.

The expression of melanin-based plumage is separately modulated by exogenous oxidative stress and a melanocortin.

Melanin-based traits involved in animal communication have been traditionally viewed as occurring under strict genetic control. However, it is generally accepted that both genetic and environmental factors influence melanin production. Medical studies suggest that, among environmental factors influencing melanization, oxidative stress could play a relevant role. On the other hand, genetic control would be exerted by the melanocortin system, and particularly by the alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), which triggers the production of eumelanins (black pigments). To determine how the melanocortin system and an exogenous source of oxidative stress interact in the expression of melanin-based plumage, developing red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) were manipulated. Some partridges were injected with alpha-MSH, while other birds received a pro-oxidant molecule (diquat) in drinking water. Controls and birds receiving both treatments were also studied. Both alpha-MSH- and diquat-treated individuals presented larger eumelanin-based traits than controls, but alpha-MSH+diquat-treated birds showed the largest traits, suggesting that oxidative stress and melanocortins promote additive but independent effects. Diquat also induced a decline in the level of a key intracellular antioxidant (glutathione), which is associated with high expression of eumelanin-based signals in other bird species. Some scenarios for the evolution of melanin-based traits in relation to oxidative stress are proposed.

Increased egg estradiol concentration feminizes digit ratios of male pheasants (Phasianus colchicus).

The length ratio between individual digits differs between males and females in humans, other mammals, lizards, and one bird species. Sexual dimorphism in digit ratios and variation among individuals of the same sex may depend on differential exposure to androgens and estrogens during embryonic life. Organizational effects of sex hormones could cause the observed correlations between digit ratios and diverse phenotypic traits in humans. However, no study has investigated experimentally the effect of prenatal estrogens on digit ratios. We analyzed the effect of estradiol injection in ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) eggs on digit ratios. Males from control eggs had higher ratios between the second or third and the fourth digit of the right foot compared to females. Estradiol-treated eggs produced males with lower (feminized) right foot second to fourth digit ratio. Thus, we provided the first experimental evidence that prenatal exposure to physiologically high estrogen levels affects bird digit ratios.