Journals / Kocatepe Veteriner Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 19 Sayı: 1

Macroscopic and Microscopic Examination of Uropygial Gland in Young and Adult Quails (Coturnix japonica)

Genç ve Erişkin Bıldırcınlarda (Coturnix japonica) Üropigial Bezin Makroskopik ve Mikroskopik İncelenmesi

Banu Kandil(SİİRT ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-7821-2180
Fatma İşbilir(SİİRT ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-6110-1302
Muhammed Zahid Atli(SİİRT ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0007-3139-1453
Pages
1–13
Publication Date
2026-03-01
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Consequently, secretion increased, and structural changes formed in the uropygial glands of adult quails

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study aimed to evaluate the anatomical and histological aspects of the uropygial gland of young and adult quails (Coturnix japonica).
📊
Key Findings & Data:Uropygial glands of 20-30 day-old (young, n: 6) and 150-200 day-old (adult, n: 6) quails were used as tissue material.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Consequently, secretion increased, and structural changes formed in the uropygial glands of adult quails
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Bıldırcın · Genç dönem · Histoloji

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the anatomical and histological aspects of the uropygial gland of young and adult quails (Coturnix japonica). Uropygial glands of 20-30 day-old (young, n: 6) and 150-200 day-old (adult, n: 6) quails were used as tissue material. Tissue samples were fixed in 10% formaldehyde for histological examination. After routine procedures, Crossmon’s trichrome staining was performed on tissue sections. Live weight (LW), gland weight (GW), glandula uropygialis width (GUW) and length (GUL), and papilla uropygialis width (PUW) and length (PUH) measurements were performed for morphological evaluations. Additionally, relative gland weight index (RGWI), lobus glandula uropygialis index (LGUI), and glandula uropygialis length index (GULI) values were calculated. LW and GW were higher in the adult quails (p<0.05). However, GUW, GUL, PUW, PUH, RGWI, LGUI, and GULI did not differ between young and adult quails (p>0.05). In both periods, the glandula uropygialis consisted of two lobes. Each lobe had a central cavity and an excretory duct. Tubules were divided into peripheral and central. The tubules were lined with stratified epithelium containing basal, intermediate, secretory, and degenerative cells. Peripheral tubules were more dominant in both periods. In the adult quails, the central cavity grew larger, and tubular structures and the connective tissue between the tubules showed more development. The number of secretory cell layers in both the central and peripheral tubules increased. Also, fat droplets were observed in many secretory cells in the peripheral tubules. Consequently, secretion increased, and structural changes formed in the uropygial glands of adult quails

Özet

Bu çalışma genç ve yetişkin bıldırcınların (Coturnix japonica) üropigial bezinin anatomik ve histolojik özelliklerinin belirlenmesi amaçladı. 20-30 günlük (genç, n:6) ve 150-200 günlük (yetişkin, n: 6) bıldırcınların üropigial bezleri doku materyali olarak kullanıldı. Histolojik inceleme için doku örnekleri %10 formaldehitte tespit edildi. Rutin işlemlerde sonra, doku kesitlerine Crossmon'un üçlü boyaması yapıldı. Morfolojik değerlendirmeler için canlı ağırlık (LW), bez ağırlığı (GW), glandula üropigial genişliği (GUW) ve uzunluğu (GUL) ile papilla üropigial genişliği (PUW) ve uzunluğu (PUH) ölçümleri alındı. Ayrıca, relatif bez ağırlık indeksi (RGWI), lobus glandula üropigial indeksi (LGUI) ve glandula üropigial uzunluk indeksi (GULI) değerleri hesaplandı. LW ve GW yetişkin bıldırcınlarda daha yüksekti (p<0.05). Ancak, GUW, GUL, PUW, PUH, RGWI, LGUI, and GULI genç ve yetişkin bıldırcınlar arasında farklı değildi (p>0.05). Her iki dönemde, üropigial bez iki lobdan oluşuyordu. Her bir lob bir merkezi boşluğa ve akıtıcı kanala sahipti. Tubuller periferal ve merkez olarak ikiye ayrıldı. Tubuller bazal, intermediyer, sekretorik ve dejeneratif hücrelerden oluşan çok katlı epitel ile kaplıydı. Periferal tubuller her iki dönem de baskındı. Yetişkin bıldırcınlarda, merkezi boşluk büyüdü ve tubuller arasındaki bağ dokusu ve tubuller daha fazla gelişme gösterdi. Hem merkezi hem de perifer tubullerdeki sekretorik hücre katmanlarının sayısı arttı. Ayrıca, perifer tubullerdeki birçok sekretorik hücresinde yağ damlacıkları gözlenlendi. Sonuç olarak, yetişkin bıldırcınların üropigial bezlerinde salgı olayı arttı ve yapısal değişiklikler şekillendi.

🔖

Cite This Article

Kandil, B., İşbilir, F., Atli, M. Z. (2026). Macroscopic and Microscopic Examination of Uropygial Gland in Young and Adult Quails (Coturnix japonica). Kocatepe Veteriner Dergisi, Cilt: 19 Sayı: 1, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.1713275

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (28)

  1. Aboud, F. S., & Elbahi, A. M. (2021). Histological changes of uropygial gland in Indigenous chicken during summer and winter seasons. JOMS, 16(2), 9-14. doi:10.51984/joms.v16i2.1752
  2. Baumel, J. J., King, A. S., Breasile, J. E., Evans, H. E., & Berge, J. C. V. (1993). Handbook of avian anatomy (Nomina anatomica avium). 2nd ed. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Publications of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, p.22-44.
  3. Bride, J. (1978). Cytophysiologic differentiation in the epithelial region of the uropygial gland in the duck embryo Anas platyrhynchos. J Embryol Exp Morphol, 46, 21-35.
  4. Burger, B. V., Reiter, B., Borzyk, O., & Du Plessis, M. A. (2004). Avian exocrine secretions. I. Chemical characterization of the volatile fraction of the uropygial secretion of the green woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus. J Chem Ecol, 30(8), 1603-1611. doi: 10.1023/b:joec.0000042071
  5. Carril, J., Chiale, M. C., & Barbeito, C. G. (2020). The uropygial gland of the monk parakeet Myiopsitta monachus: Histology, morphogenesis, and evolution within Psittaciformes (Aves). Evol Dev, 22(3), 269-282. doi:10.1111/ede.12327
  6. Chiale, M. C., Fernández, P. E., Gimeno, E. J., Barbeito, C., & Montalti, D. (2014). Morphology and histology of the uropygial gland in Antarctic birds: relationship with their contact with the aquatic environment?. Australian Journal of Zoology, 62(2), 157-165. doi:10.1071/ZO13103
  7. Crossmon, G. (1937). A modification of Mallory's connective tissue stain with a discussion of the principles involved. Anat Rec, 69(1), 33-38. doi: 10.1002/ar.1090690105
  8. Harem, I. S., Kocak-Harem, M., Turan-Kozlu, T., Akaydin-Bozkurt, Y., Karadag-Sari, E., & Altunay, H. (2010). Histologic structure of the uropygial gland of the osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 41(1), 148-151. doi:10.1638/2008-0205.1
  9. Hassanin, A., Shoeib, M., & Massoud, D. (2021). Micro and macroanatomical features of the uropygial gland of duck (Anas platyrhynchos) and pigeon (Columba livia). Biotech Histochem, 96(3), 213-222. doi:10.1080/10520295.2020.1782990
  10. Hirao, A., Aoyama, M., & Sugita, S. (2009). The role of uropygial gland on sexual behavior in domestic chicken Gallus gallus domesticus. Behav Processes, 80(2), 115-120. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2008.10.006.
  11. İşbilir, F., Özgüden Akkoç, C. G., İsbilir, İ., Özöner, Ö., Güzel, B. C., Arıcan, I., Atalgın, Şükrü Hakan, Can, M., & Bekmezci, S. (2024a). Morphometric, macroscopic and microscopic investigation of glandulae uropygiale in turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). Microsc Res Tech, 87(11), 2707-2719. doi:10.1002/jemt.24642
  12. İşbilir, F., Küpeli, Z. A., İşbilir, İ., Arıcan, İ., & Özyiğit, Ö. (2024b). Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of uropygial gland of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). TJVR, 8(1), 43-51. doi: 10.47748/tjvr.1393777
  13. Jacob, J., & Ziswiler, V. (1982). The uropygial gland. In: Avian Biol, p.199-324.
  14. Kanasiya, S., Karmore, S. K., Barhaiya, R. K., Deshmukh, S. K., & Joshi, S. K. (2016). Histological and histochemical study on the uropygial gland of Kadaknath breed of poultry. Veterinary Practitioner, 17(2), 195-197.
  15. Karaavci, F. A., Dortbudak, M. B., Demircioglu, M., & Kocyigit, A. (2024). Investigation of glandula uropygialis in different avian species using morphometric and histological methods. Anat Histol Embryol, 53(5), e13107. doi: 10.1111/ahe.13107.
  16. Kelek, S., & Çınar, K. (2009). The Histological and histochemical structures of uropygial gland of the female and male quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). EÜFBED, 2(2), 229-238.
  17. Liman, N., & Alan, E. (2013). The process of apoptosis in a holocrine gland as shown by the avian uropygial gland. Anatl Rec, 296(3), 504-520. doi: 10.1002/ar.22645.
  18. Massoud, D., AbdRabou, M. A., Faddladdeen, K. A. J., El-Kott, A. F., Abumandour, M. M. A, & Khalil, E. K. (2025). Age-related histological and histochemical changes of the Uropygial gland in the Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia). Microsc Microanal, 31(2), ozaf021. doi: 10.1093/mam/ozaf021.
  19. Mohamed, R. (2019). Macro and microanatomical study on the uropygial gland of the mule duck. Inter J Vet Sci, 8(2), 96-100.
  20. Moreno‐Rueda, G. (2017). Preen oil and bird fitness: a critical review of the evidence. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc, 92(4), 2131-2143. doi: 10.1111/brv.12324
  21. Sandilands, V., Powell, K., Keeling, L., & Savory, C. J. (2004). Preen gland function in layer fowls: factors affecting preen oil fatty acid composition. Br Poult Sci, 45(1), 109-115. doi: 10.1080/00071660410001668932.
  22. Salibian, A., & Montalti, D. (2009). Physiological and biochemical aspects of the avian uropygial gland. Braz J Biol, 69(2), 437-46. doi: 10.1590/s1519-69842009000200029.
  23. Sawad, A. A. (2006). Morphological and histological study of uropygial gland in Moorhen (G. gallinula C. Choropus). International Journal of Poultry Science, 5(10), 931-934.
  24. Shafiian, A. H. & Mobini, B. (2014). Histological and histochemical study on the uropygial gland of the goose (Anser anser). Bulg J Vet Med, 17(1), 1-8.
  25. Soini, H. A., Schrock, S. E., Bruce, K. E., Wiesler, D., Ketterson, E. D., & Novotny, M. V. (2007). Seasonal variation in volatile compound profiles of preen gland secretions of the Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis). J Chem Ecol, 33, 183-198. doi: 10.1007/s10886-006-9210-0
  26. Yılmaz, B., Harem, İ. Ș., Demircioğlu, I., Özyiğit, G., & Bozkaya, F. (2018). Anatomic, morphometric and histological features of glandula uropygialis in Aseel roosters and hens. Eurasian J Vet Sci, 34(2), 65-70. doi: 10.15312/EurasianJVetSci.2018.182
  27. Yılmaz, B., & Yılmaz, R. (2020). Morphological and histological analysis of the Uropygial Gland in Barn owls (Tyto alba). J Res Vet Med, 39(2) 143-148. doi:10.30782/jrvm.813008
  28. Zık, B., & Erdost, H. (2002). Histological investigations on the effects of feeding with a diet containing red hot pepper on the uropygial gland of a rooster. Turk J Vet Anim Sci, 26(6), 1223-1232.