Histological studies on the pineal gland of domestic duck (Anas boschas domesticus)

The material for the present study comprised of ducks of either sex belonging to day old, six week old adult and old birds procured from various fanus around Madras City. The pineal glands collected from these birds were processed for histological observations. The parenchyma of the pineal consisted of follicles and compact rosettes, the former dominated in the immature birds while the latter dominated in the adult and old birds. The tall columnar and basal cells lined the follicles. The polygonal cells lined the compact rosettes. The cytoplasmic pyroninophilia, increased nuclear diameter all indicated activity in the mature birds as compared to immature and old birds.