Histochemical Structure of the Nasal Concha Mucosa in Ducks (Anas plathyrinchos)

Due to their morphological and structural characteristics, birds possess a respiratory system distinct from that of mammals. Their nasal structures are highly specialized respiratory tissue sections designed. In these animals, the cartilaginous conchae exhibit a helical morphology. This special structure enables efficient heat exchange and moisture transfer.

The nasal cavity ducts were removed and routine histological procedures were performed in Carnoy fixative. Triple staining technique was applied to sections to determine the histological structure. PAS, PAS-diastase, Alcian Blue-PAS, Alcian Blue-Aldehyde Fuchsin and Best Carmin stainings were applied to determine the mucin content of the glands.

Histological examination revealed that it was lined by squamous keratinized epithelium, which formed tubular glands containing secretory epithelium. A large amount of Grandry and Herbst corpuscles were found. The cartilage in the concha showed convoluted, were covered by pseudostratified prismatic epithelium. Unlike mammals, alveolar glands were found instead of goblet cells. It was determined that the intraepithelial glands in carboxylic acid mucin and neutral mucin. Acid mucins in the concha mucosa, while neutral mucins were in the alveolar glands. No difference was observed in the PAS staining of in the concha, while glycogen in concha and the Bowman glands were found not to contain mucin.