Histological and Physico-Chemical Characterization of Skin Dermis in Broiler and Kuttanad Ducks

Abstract

Comparative studies on the histological and physico-chemical properties of dermal layer of skin were conducted in broiler and Kuttanad ducks. Skin samples were collected from a total of 24 birds comprising of six males and females in each group. The samples were collected from eight representative areas of the body viz., dorsal neck, alar, dorsal abdomen, ventral abdomen, pelvic, dorsal wing, ventral wing and lateral thigh regions, fixed in 10 per cent neutral buffered formalin for histological studies and processed by routine procedures. All the birds under study showed quite similar structural characteristics of thin skin. Hydroxy proline and collagen contents were more in the skin of spent Kuttanad ducks compared to broiler ducks. The moisture content was found to be more in broiler skin and fat percentage was more in the skin of Kuttanad ducks. Histological section of skin also showed increased thickness of collagen containing stratum compactum layer of dermis in spent Kuttanad ducks. In leather manufacture, the thickness as well as the direction of dermal collagen fibers was found to be the important determinants of the tearing strength of the skin. The collagen in the stratum compactum of the skin expressed as a fraction of skin protein was found to be less in females when compared to males in both groups which suggest the high incidence of skin tearing in females when compared to that of males. The data obtained is valuable as a basic data for the meat technologists, veterinary clinicians as well as surgeons and opens the scope of using duck skin in the cosmetics, pharmaceutics and leather production.