Macroscopic and Microscopic Examination of Uropygial Gland in Young and Adult Quails (Coturnix japonica)

This study aimed to evaluate the anatomical and histological aspects of the uropygial gland of young and adult quails (Coturnix japonica). Uropygial glands of 20-30 day-old (young, n: 6) and 150-200 day-old (adult, n: 6) quails were used as tissue material. Tissue samples were fixed in 10% formaldehyde for histological examination. After routine procedures, Crossmon’s trichrome staining was performed on tissue sections. Live weight (LW), gland weight (GW), glandula uropygialis width (GUW) and length (GUL), and papilla uropygialis width (PUW) and length (PUH) measurements were performed for morphological evaluations. Additionally, relative gland weight index (RGWI), lobus glandula uropygialis index (LGUI), and glandula uropygialis length index (GULI) values were calculated. LW and GW were higher in the adult quails (p0.05). In both periods, the glandula uropygialis consisted of two lobes. Each lobe had a central cavity and an excretory duct. Tubules were divided into peripheral and central. The tubules were lined with stratified epithelium containing basal, intermediate, secretory, and degenerative cells. Peripheral tubules were more dominant in both periods. In the adult quails, the central cavity grew larger, and tubular structures and the connective tissue between the tubules showed more development. The number of secretory cell layers in both the central and peripheral tubules increased. Also, fat droplets were observed in many secretory cells in the peripheral tubules. Consequently, secretion increased, and structural changes formed in the uropygial glands of adult quails