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Abstract

The glandular stomach (proventriculus) of ostrich (Struthio camelus) was examined histologically, histochemically and by electron microscope. (6) Adult ostriches of both sexes were used in this study. The proventriculus was a dilated sac and divided into papillary and non-papillary regions. The proventricular wall was consisted of tunica mucosa, submucosa, musculosa and serosa. Its mucosa was thrown into plica and sulci which lined by simple columnar epithelium changed into simple cuboidal at the base of the folds. These epithelial cells reacted strongly to PAS, alcian blue )pH 1(and moderately to aldehyde fuchsine. While, very few granules appeared in the apical part of the columnar cells by Best’s carmine stain. The lamina propria was loose connective tissue and housed superficial tubular glands which lined by simple cuboidal epithelium. Histochemically, these cells showed moderate to faint reaction to PAS and Best’s carmine. The lamina muscularis mucosa scattered in the deepest part of the lamina propria separating it from the tunica submucosa which composed of dense irregular connective tissue containing compound tubulo-alveolar deep glands. These glands histologically, lined by cuboidal or pyramidal shaped cells which reacted moderately to PAS and Best’s carmine. On the other hand, these cells reacted negatively to alcian blue )pH 1) and aldehyde fuchsine. At the ultrastructural level, these glands lined by oxynticopeptic cells, which demarcated into light and dark cells, and enteroendocrine cells which were recognized as a closed type cell. The main difference between the papillary and non-papillary regions were the absence of the submucosal glands from the submucosa of the non-papillary region.