Prepubertal and Pubertal Caecal Wall Histology in Japanese Quails (coturnix Coturnix Japonica)

The present study is aimed to investigate changes in caecal wall histology of quails, during prepubertal and pubertal periods. To this end, forty quails at the ages of 10, 20, 30 (prepuberty) and 40 (puberty) days were slaughtered (10 birds in each sampling time) and histological sections from proximal, middle and distal parts of caeca were prepared and stained with H&E. It was observed that in proximal part, villus height significantly increased during prepuberty and remained constant around the puberty; moreover, the villi became wider at pubertal period. Highest width of both mucosal and muscular layers was observed on day 30. Sub mucosal layer width continued to increase with age. In middle part, the villi became significantly shorter and wider around puberty. Sub mucosal layer was thickest at puberty while the mucosal layer had its highest width. The increase in sub mucosal layer width was accompanied by expansion of lymphoid tissues in both proximal and middle parts. The villi were absent in distal part of cecum. The width of muscular layer increased with age during the prepubertal period and remained statistically constant afterwards. It can be concluded that caecal immune structures of quails in pre pubertal and pubertal ages expand by age and are more developed at puberty. The structural ability of muscular layer of caecal apex is increased at puberty which helps in returning particles back to colon when their entrance is increased due to short villi.