HISTOLOGIC AND MICROMETRIC STUDY OF THE PROVENTRICULUS AND GIZZARD OF THE WILD BRONZE TURKEY (MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO)

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the histologic and micrometric study of the proventriculus and gizzard of the wild bronze turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Thirty clinically healthy Bronze turkeys (15 females and 15 males) were used for the study. Twelve tissue samples (six from the proventriculus and six from gizzard) from the corresponding age group were used to prepare histological slides. The preparations were stained with hematoxylin (Erlich) - eosin and Masson’s trichrome. The wall of the proventriculus was composed of four layers. They were tunica mucosa, tunica submucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa. Mucosa had many grooves and plicae with simple columnar epithelium. The proventricular submucosa had compound tubuloalveolar glands which took the greatest part of the wall. The gizzard had tunica mucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa. Compound tubular glands were found in the mucosa. On the mucosal surface was observed a thick keratinized layer, which was produced by the glands. In lamina propria mucosae were found compound tubular glands which opened on the mucosal surface by a short neck. The glands in the grooves were more branched, compared to those localized in the folds. Lamina muscularis mucosae was not found.