Heterophilc leucocytes are the predominant granulocytes in the ovary and ultimobranchiat glands of the adult fowl

Abstract

Pieces of ovary and ultimobranchial gland from adult laying hens were examined by an indirect peroxidase technique which differentiated tissue eosinophil and heterophil leucocytes. The results showed that in both organs, brown-staining peroxidase-positive eosinophils were greatly out-numbered by pink- to red-staining heterophils, thus demonstrating that eosinophils are not the dominant granulocyte present, as has been widely reported. It is suggested that the heterophils may be required in a phagocytic role.