Some Histological Characteristics and Histochemical features of the Esophagus in Indigenous Adult Male Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Abstract

Background: The glands were more expanded in the thoracic region compared to those in the cervical region.
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the histological and histochemical characteristics of the esophagus of Eurasian collared doves to provide basic data for physiological and pharmacological investigation.
Results: Histologically, the esophagus was comprised of the following layers: mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa. The mucosa was formed by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, then lamina propria, loose connective tissue with glands. The muscularis mucosa was formed of thin longitudinal bundles of the smooth muscles and longitudinal folds in the cervical region of the esophagus. The submucosa was made of a thin layer of loose connective tissue. The muscularis was made of circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers. The mean thickness of the muscularis in the thoracic region was greater than the cervical one. The mucosal folds in the cervical region were longitudinal and greatly deeper than those present in the thoracic region of the esophagus. The submucosa was made of a thin layer of loose connective tissue. In the cervical region, the mean mucosal and submucosal thicknesses were thicker than those detected in the thoracic region. The muscularis was made of circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers. The mean thickness of the muscularis in the thoracic region was greater than the cervical one. The mean thickness of connective tissue in the tunica was thicker than that in the thoracic one.