A STUDY ON POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL INTESTINE OF “Cobb-500” BROILER

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the postnatal development of the segments of small intestinal (Duodenum, Jejunum and Ileum) in “Cobb-500” broilers from day 1 to day 32. Five groups of Cob-500 broilers were taken at day 1, day 7, day 14, day 28 and day 32. Five apparently healthy broilers were taken in each group. They were killed, their digestive tracts were dissected, small intestine were collected and described and the shape, size and diameter of Duodenum, Jejunum and Ileum were recorded. Samples from different segments were prepared and stained with haematoxylin and eosin staining technique to study the histology under light microscope. The average length (cm) and diameter (mm) of Duodenum, Jejunum and Ileum were significantly higher in chickens at day 32 than that at day28, day 14, day7 and day 1. The villi of small intestine were lined by simple columnar epithelium. The apical parts of villi of the Duodenum were slightly pointed and the basal parts of the villi were thicker than jejunum and ileum, whereas, the villi of the jejunum was longer than Duodenum and the villi of Ileum had more pointed apical end than Duodenum. The numbers of goblet cells were numerous in number in Ileum than Duodenum and Jejunum. The average lengths and widths of villi of the Duodenum, Jejunum and Ileum of small intestine were significantly higher in chickens at day 32 than that at day 28, day 14, day 7 and day 1. The number of goblet cells in lamina epithelium and intestinal glands of the lamina propria were numerous in number at day 32 than that at day 28, day 14, day 7 and day 1.