anatomical and histological study of lacrimal gland in adult ostrich (struthio camelus)

in this research, morphology and histology of the left and right lacrimal glands of ten adult ostrich were carefully studied. after the topographical study of the glands and measuring the dimension of them, tissue sections were prepared and stained by current histology. results revealed that in ostrich, lacrimal gland was dark brown to black color and was located obliquely in dorsolateral part of orbit. the mean length of lacrimal gland was 15.95 ± 2.06mm and 16.80 ± 2.25mm in left and right side respectively. the mean width of it was 6.15 ± 0.66mm and 6.25 ± 0.58mm in left and right side respectively. there was no significant difference between length, thickness, weight and width of left and right lacrimal glands. in histological results, sceretory units of lacrimal gland were tubuloalveolar and mucous type. epithelial cells were high simple columnar and mode of secretion was apocrine. in ostrich, topography of lacrimal gland was similar to other birds and the glandular cells were positive in periodic acid shiff and alcian blue stains.