Indian Journal of Poultry Science

Present study was conducted to record the sequential post-hatch developmental changes in the duodenum of the 36 guinea fowl. Various dimensions viz thickness of various layers of duodenal wall, villus height and width, crypts depth, epithelial height and height of nucleus of epithelial cells of the duodenum were measured on 1, 7, 15, 30, 120 and 180 days of post hatch life. Histologically the thickness of all the layers increased significantly (P<0.05) with age. There was significant increase in villus height, width and crypts depth with age. The ratio between the villus height and crypts depth (V/C) decreased from day 1 to 30 then increased up to 180 day of the postnatal life. Lacteals were not noticed in the core of villi. The surface epithelium was simple columnar and comprised of chief cells, goblet cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes and globular leukocytes. Ultra structurally columnar shaped chief cells had basally located oval nucleus with prominent nucleous. At the apical surface of the cells and microvilli and few cytoplasmic invaginations. The surface coat (glycocalyx) or fuzz covering the microvilli was less extensive. The goblet cells contained mucin droplets on the surface epithelium of the villi. Globular leucocytes (GL) and lymphocytes were sandwiched between the epithelial cells throughout the duodenum of the guinea fowl. The Plasma cells with dilated endoplasmic reticulum and the mast cells were located in the lamina propria just beneath the epithelium.