Transmission electron microscopic studies on the oviduct of domestic hen

The ultrastructural investigation was made on various oviductal segments of six domestic laying hens. The present study revealed that the surface epithelium of oviduct mainly consisted of two types of cells viz: ciliated and non ciliated granular cells. The ciliated cells were narrow with an expanded apex having cilia. Non ciliated granular cells had a number of granules in cytoplasm. The luminal surface of infundibulum was covered mostly by ciliated cells. The surface epithelium of the magnum was lined by non-secretory (ciliated) and secretory (non-ciliated) granular cells. Ciliated cells were a predominant feature of the epithelium in all regions of the oviduct. The apex of these cells displayed both cilia and microvilli. The non ciliated cells contained many granules of variable sizes. These cells had microvilli and blebs on their apical border suggesting secretory activity of these cells. These non ciliated cells had numerous Golgi bodies and rough endoplasmic reticulum in their cytoplasm. The uterus was lined with apical and basal cells thus giving epithelium a pseudostratified appearance. The apical surface of vagina had stratified squamous type of epithelium. It may be concluded that by transmission electron microscopic studies the various segments of hen oviduct can be differentiated at cellular level to correlate their physiological activity.