The structure and topography of lymphoid tissue in immune formations of intestines in ducks

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the structure and topography of lymphoid tissue in immune formations of the intestines (Peyer’s patches, Meckel’s diverticulum, apical diverticula) in the postnatal period of ducks’ ontogenesis. Established that lymphoid tissue in these organs located in the tunica mucosa and tunica muscularis of the intestines’ wall. From the one-day age of duck, the lymphoid tissue is found in the tunica mucosa of all studied structures and in the tunica muscularis of the apical diverticula, and in the tunica muscularis from 10–20-days of age in the location of Peyer’s patches and the Meckel’s diverticulum. Lymphoid tissue has three levels of structural organization. These are diffuse lymphoid tissue, primary lymphoid nodules and secondary lymphoid nodules. The presence of all levels of the structural organization of lymphoid tissue indicates its complete morphofunctional maturity. The complete morphofunctional maturity of the mucosal lymphoid tissue of Peyer's patches is reached on the 15 day of ducks’ age, the mucosal lymphoid tissue of the Meckel diverticulum on the 20-day of age, and in the apical diverticula on the 10- day of age. The complete morphofunctional maturity of the muscular lymphoid tissue of Peyer's patches is reached on the 15–25 days of ducks’ age, the muscular lymphoid tissue of the Meckel diverticulum on the 25-day of age, and in the apical diverticula on the 10-day of age. The present article provides the first time data summarizing the structure and topography of lymphoid tissue in the immune formations of the intestines, such as Peyer’s patches, Meckel’s diverticulum and apical diverticula of the Blahovarsky cross broiler ducks.