ISSN:
0003-276X
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Calcium-deprivation of three weeks duration causes marked degenerative changes in the shell gland mucosa of the laying hen. The height of the columnar epithelium decreases, but the secretory granules in the columnar epithelial cells and the cilia on the apical cells of the columnar epithelium are preserved. The tubular glands decrease in size and number. The microvilli surrounding the tubular gland lumen disappear. The cytoplasm of the tubular gland cell contains autophagic vacuoles (cytolysomes) and large pigment accumulations, presumably lipofuscin. The changes are due to dietary calcium deficiency, apparently mediated by decreased sex steroid secretion and decreased stimulation of the oviduct. These changes are totally reversible, since the fine structure of the shell gland mucosa of calcium-deprived hens returned to a normal laying diet does not show any signs of degeneration and is identical with the fine structure of the shell gland mucosa of the laying control birds.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ar.1091640201
