Histomorphometry of Small Intestine in Post-hatch Uttara fowl

Abstract

Uttara breed of fowl has evolved through natural selection in indigenous agro-ecological conditions and is well adapted to the local environment of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand state, situated at the Himalayan foothills. It is a docile bird to keep and provides an important animal origin food source of high nutritive value to the local inhabitants. The present study was planned to investigate the post hatch development of the absorptive structure and relative thickness of tunics in different
segments of the small intestine. Histomorphometry is one of the basic and valuable techniques in histological studies. The
present work was designed and carried out to elucidate the histomorphometrical features of the small intestine of Uttara fowl. Analysing the results, it was observed that the mucosa of the intestinal villi was lined by simple columnar epithelium. The
entire length of intestinal mucosa was studded with villi of variable shape and size. The villi were longest (1675.0 μm) in
duodenum. Overall mean thickness of the tunica mucosa was maximum (2008.3 μm) and minimum (789.5 μm) in duodenum
and ileum respectively. However, thickness of the tunica muscularis was maximum (341.6 μm) in ileum which increased
from duodenum to ileum with advancing age. The major conclusion was the observation that duodenum is the principal site of nutrient absorption in Uttara fowl breed.