Histological studies on intestinal villi of several age chicken at post hatching period

SUMMARYIn this study, determination of the height and width of villi, the goblet cell count perunit length of villi and mitotic cell count in crypts of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum onseveral age chicken at post hatching period was aimed. For this purposes, 70 broiler chickenwere used. The chicken were fed with ad libitum feed and water under conventionalcondition. On the 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 week old chicken, tissue samples were collected from10 chickens for each group. Transversal sections were stained by the Crosman?s triple stain,haematoxilene- eosine (HXE) and periodic acid schiff (PAS) reaction. Villus height andwidth, goblet cell count and mitotic cell count were determined by means of a image analysissystem (Leica Q Win Standard).The height of villi in all small intestine were generally increased from 0 day to 6 weekold chicken. Whereas the villus height were shortened on 8 week old chicken. The width ofvilli were increased generally in duodenum and jejunum. The width of villi in ileum wereincreased untill 3th weeks but villus width were decreased the following ages. The goblet cellcount in all small intestine were generally increased with age. The mitotic cell count weredecreased gradually from 0 day to 3th weeks and increased suddenly on 3th weeks and thandecreased gradually following ages.