Abstract
The peculiarity of the digestive process in ostrich and the lack of bibliographic data on the pancreas and its excretory system in this species led us to undertake macroscopical and histological investigations to explore possible differences compared to other avian species. Our findings demonstrated the presence of two pancreatic lobes, dorsal and ventral, and a third lobe, the splenic lobe, detectable only histologically. The most interesting data concerned the number, course, drainage and structural peculiarities of the pancreatic duct. The structural and ultrastructural features of the two cell types lining the pancreatic duct (main cells and globose cells) were suggestive of their role in secretion and resorption of the pancreatic juice. The results allow the understanding of the particular digestive process of this species.
Highlights
The peculiarity of the digestive process in ostrich and the lack of bibliographic data on the pancreas and its excretory system in this species led us to undertake macroscopical and histological investigations to explore possible differences compared to other avian species
Our results showed that the ostrich pancreas does not differ substantially from findings reported for other avian species since it presents three lobes: the dorsal lobe, the ventral lobe, sometimes divided into two portions, and the splenic lobe, which in the ostrich is detectable only histologically
Considerable differences related to the number, course and opening of the pancreatic duct were found instead
Summary
The peculiarity of the digestive process in ostrich and the lack of bibliographic data on the pancreas and its excretory system in this species led us to undertake macroscopical and histological investigations to explore possible differences compared to other avian species. Bibliographical data report significant differences among avian species with regard to the number, course and drainage of the main excretory ducts (Botte and Pelagalli 1982; Liu et al 1998; Nickel et al 1984; Paik et al 1974; Sisson and Grossman 1982; Turk 1983; Vinnicombe and Kendall 1983). The variability of this pattern led us to investigate the morphology and the structure of the pancreas and its excretory system (in particular the pancreatic duct) in ostrich, a species on which only scanty information is available (Bezuidenhout 1986). The ostrich is of particular interest for food production, and on account of the peculiar features of its digestive process, which involves constant food intake throughout the day and requires continuous production of pancreatic juice
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
