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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur
The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively.
Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively.
On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs.
In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc.
During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU).
Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.
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ThesisItem Open Access Postnatal Development of the Oviduct in the Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)(Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1994) Lucy, K M; KAU; Harshan, K RThe structure and postnatal development of the oviduct in quails were investigated using 72 birds aged from day-old to 60 days. The growth, morphology and histology of the oviduct were studied using six birds at each age group. In the day-old quail chick, the oviduct could seen as a narrow white translucent tube towards the left side of the coelom connected by dorsal and ventral ligaments. The sign of coiling was evident from 25 days of age. In the initial stages, the increase in weight and length of oviduct was in accordance with the growth of the bird. Rapid changes in the development of the organ occurred between 30 and 4 0 days of age and a spurt in growth was noticed from 40-60 days of age. In the day-old chick, the cranial regions of the oviduct corresponding to the infundibulum, magnum and isthmus were undifferentiated. Throughout the length of the oviduct, histological appearance was the same. The mucosa was thrown into low primary folds lined by simple columnar epithelium and there was subepithelial connective tissue containing densely packed cells with fine collagen and reticular fibres. The large number of luminal epithelial cells and the increase in height of the mucosal folds indicated entry into a rapid growth phase which started between 30 and 40 days of age. In the adult bird, the innermost epithelium of the different segments of the oviduct consisted of ciliated columnar cells and secretory goblet cells. Lamina propria was packed with tubular glands except in the funnel of infundibulum, magnum-isthmus junction and vagina. Bundles of collagen and a few elastic and reticular fibres constituted the core of the mucosal folds. Mucosal folds also contained lymphocytes in diffuse form and nodular aggregates. Thickness of the tunica muscularis increased from the anterior to the posterior end of the oviduct. Externally there was a typical serosaThesisItem Open Access Post-hatch development of preen gland in the duck (anas platyrhynchos)(Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Rajathi, S; KAU; Ashok, NThe study on the post-hatch development of the preen gland in ducks was conducted using 44 ducks from the day of hatch to 150 days of age. The project was taken up to trace the structure and development of the glands and their relationship with the age and body weight. After recording gross relations and measurements, the material was fixed using various fixatives for studying the cellular details, arrangement of cells, connective tissue framework, micrometry and histochemistry. The preen gland was a paired organ with two gland and a common cylindrical papilla together formed a ‘V’ shaped structure. Each gland was pear shaped and pale yellow in colour, in fresh state. They were located on the dorsal surface of the pygostyle. The two glands had separate ducts. The uropygial circlet was seen at the tip of the papilla. The glands were vascularized through a pair of branches from the caudal artery and innnervated through the medial caudal nerve. The weight of the preen glands increased progressively from the day of hatch to 150 days of age. This weight was positively correlated with the age and body weight. The proportion of the gland weight to body weight showed a decreasing trend. The right gland was slightly heavier, longer, wider and thicker than the left. The length, breadth and thickness were positively correlated with age and body weight. Simple, branched, tubular and holocrine type of glands was covered by highly vascular connective tissue capsule composed of collagen and reticular fibres. Elastic and smooth muscle cells were absent. The secretory tubules showed two zones, an outer zone or zone I, near the capsule and an inner zone or zone II, towards the primary cavity. The epithelium of the tubules consisted of basal, intermediate and transitional cell layers. The papilla had two ducts, which were lined by glandular epithelium initially and keratinized type of stratified stratified squamous epithelium at the tip. The glandular epithelium was surrounded by longitudinally arranged smooth muscle fibres and skin. Lamellar corpuscles and circlet feather follicles were noticed in the papilla. Capsule, trabeculae and the parenchyma were PAS positive. Acid mucopolysaccharides and glycogen were not detected in the gland. Lipids were evident uniformly in all the cell layers. The acid phosphatase activity was moderate in the basal and intermediate layers and strong in the transitional layer. The alkaline phosphatase activity was moderate in the basal and intermediate layers and weak in transitional layer of outer zone. It was moderate in the basal and intermediate layers and intense in the transitional layer of inner zone. Micrometrical findings on the capsule thickness, width of outer and inner zones and the primary cavity increased with the advancement of age.ThesisItem Open Access Postnatal development of the bursa of fabricius in duck (Anas platyrhynchos)(Department of Anatomy, College of veterinary and animal sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Indu, V Raj; KAU; Jose John ChungathThe structure and post natal development of the bursa of Fabricious in White Pekin ducks were investigated using 51 birds aged from day – old to 155 – days. The growth, morphology and histology of the bursa were studied using three birds of each age group. In the day – old ducklings, the bursa could be seen as a smooth, yellow, elongated blind sac – like structure with a tapering apex. By 155 days it was a cylintrical and much reduced pale structure. In all the birds, the bursa communicated with the proctodeum of cloaca by a short stalk. The inner surface of bursa contained two large well – developed plicae on the ventral aspect and about five to eight smaller folds all round the circumference. The number of plicae increased upto 30 days of post natal life. After 80 days a decreasing trend was recorded in their number. After hatch, the bursal growth rate was not in proportion to that of body. It showed a decreasing trend after attaining peak values at five days of age. Though the bursa weight varied with variation in the age and body weight of the bird, a greater percentage variation in its weight was accounted for by body weight. The weight, length, diameter and plical measurements of bursa attained maximum average values at 58 days of age indicating that the bursa of ducks may be most functional at this age. Histologically, the wall of the bursa was divided into three tunics in birds of all ages. The outermost, tunica serosa enveloped the entire organ and increased in thickness gradually. The middle, tunica muscularis consisted of an outer circular and inner longitudinal layer of smooth muscle fibres with blood vessels in between. The innermost, tunica mucosa consisted of pseudostratified lining epithelium and lamina propria filled with follicles. The epithelium was distinguished into follicle associated epithelium and interfollicular epithelium. Each follicle consisted of a cortex and medulla separated by a layer of epithelial cells with distinct basement membrane in birds of all ages. Lymphoblast, lymphocytes and macrophages formed the cellular component of the follicle. The number, size and cellular details of lymphoid follicles attained their peak – values by about 58 to 65 days of post hatch period. The interfollicular and subepithelial connective tissue was made up of collagen and reticular fibres with a few elastic fibres. The cellular component in it included plasma cells, eosinophils, mast cells, macrophages and fat cells. Involutory changes in the bursa were recorded from 95 – days post hatch characterised by degeneration of plical epithelium and follicular atrophy. Prominent microscopic features of involution were evident from 140 days of age. The bursa showed follicular degeneration, fibrosis of subepithelialstroma, collapse of plicae, depletion of lymphocytes and fatty replacement of the organ. The lining epithelial cells of bursal mucosa revealed positive reaction to Schiff’s reagent and metachromasia in birds of all ages. Intense acid phosphatase and moderate alkaline phosphatase activity was noticed in the epithelial cells of the bursa, in all the birds. The maximum positive immunoperoxidase activity seen by about 35 to 58 days of age suggested that immunologically the bursa was at its peak functional activity at this age.ThesisItem Open Access Development of the adrenal gland in the crossbred goat(Department of Anatomy, College of veterinary and animal sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Ashok, N; KAU; Harshan, K RStudies on the prenatal and postnatal development of the adrenal gland in crossbred goats were conducted using 55 embryos/ foetuses of varying gestational ages and 45 goats from day old to 180 days postpartum. The project was taken up to trace the normal growth and developmental pattern of the glands and their relationship with age, body weight and the physiological status. After recording gross relations and measurements, the material was fixed using various fixatives for studying the cellular details, arrangement of cells, connective tissue framework, micrometry and histochemistry. The glands attained their characteristic shapes even during early development and were located cranial to the kidneys in the retroperitoneum. During the prenatal period weight of the adrenals increased steadily upto 141 days followed by a spurt thereafter due to the hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the cortex. After birth also an increasing trend was noticed in adrenal weight from birth to 180 days with a slight decrease at 45 days. The glandular weight was positively correlated with age and body weight. The proportion of the adrenal to body weight percentage showed a decreasing trend in both the groups studied. The left gland was slightly heavier and longer than the right while the right one was broader and thicker. The length, breadth and thickness were positively correlated with the age of foetuses and kids. The cortical primoridum was first detected at 33 days of embryonic development. By 36 days , these cells began to organize into cords and dense aggregations. Though a thin .'. collagenous capsule began to develop by 42 days, it became conspicuous with outer more fibrous and inner more cellular layers by 70 days. Reticular fibres appeared by 58 days and elastic fibres by 74 days of foetal life. By 42 days, histological differentiation started with organization of cells into small groups and clusters separated by irregular spaces. The central vein also started development at this stage. Differentiation of zona glomerulosa was noticed by 58 days and was completed by 95 days. Zona fasciculata and zona reticularis became apparent by 129 days. A distinct corticomedullary junction appeared at 95 days eventhough interdigitations of cortex and medulla were seen at the junction throughout the study period. Towards the centre of the gland intermingling of cortical and medullary cells were seen upto 104 days. Patches of cortical cells were seen in the medullary region and also around the central vein throughout the period of study. Neural crest cells invaded the cortical primordium by 50 days and this process was completed by 70 days. Chromaffin reaction appeared in the medullary cells by 50 days. Even though norepinephrine cells were detected in the gland at this stage, epinephrine cells made their presence only by 98 days. Follicles containing colloid material were encountered in the medulla during both the advanced foetal and the postnatal periods. In goats, the glands were covered by highly vascular' connective tissue capsule composed of collagen, reticular and elastic fibres with a few smooth muscle cells. An outer more fibrous and an inner more cellular layers were recognizable. The capsule contained undifferentiated cells, differentiated cortical type cells, fibroblasts, neurons and melanocytes. The parenchyma was divisible into a cortex and a medulla. Cortex was further subdivided into zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata and zona reticularis. Each zone had distinct pattern of cellular arrangement and cytological characteristics. Mast cells were occasionally detected in all the cortical zones. Mitotic figures were also recorded throughout the cortex. A zona intermedia was observed between the zona glomerulosa and the zona fasciculata. Capsule, trabeculae and the parenchyma were all PAS positive.Acid mucopolysaccharides and glycogen were also detected in the cortex. They were seen at varying intensities in the cortex and medulla of the prenatal and the postnatal subjects. Intensity of phosphatase enzymes was lower in the cortical cells between third and fourth month of gestation after which the same increased till term. After birth a higher activity upto 30 days and a reduced activity at 45 days were recorded especially in the zona fasciculata. Medullary cells revealed moderate alkaline phosphatase and intense acid , phosphatase activities during the study period. Lipid was first detected by 50 days, and upto 74 days a uniform distribution was seen throughout the cortex. Afterwards, it concentrated more in the clusters of cells in the subcapsular region. Between 84 and 122 days, a low lipid content was noticed in the cortical cells, the concentration of which gradually increased towards term. After 141 days a heavy accumulation was observed in the cortex. During the postnatal period, the inner two cortical zones showed heavy lipid accumulation upto 15 days and a slight depletion at 30 days. This was followed by a very heavy accumulation in all the three cortical zones at 45 days. Following this, a gradual depletion was noticed from all the cortical zones. In the prenatal group, capsular thickness, width of the entire cortex as well as the various cortical zones and diameter of the medulla showed positive correlation with foetal age. In the postnatal group, excepting the width of zona reticularis, all other parameters were positively correlated with age. After 135 days of gestation, width of the cortex, especially of the inner two cortical zones increased significantly till term. During postnatal period, a decrease was noticed in the width of outer two cortical zones by 45 days, however the diameter of medulla increased steadily upto 180 days. Growth rate of zona glomerulosa was higher than that of zona fasciculata till 60 days, after which the latter grew faster. The medulla grew faster than the cortex upto 45 days and thereafter no significant difference in growth rates could be detected. Percentage contribution of zona glomerulosa to the entire cortex was more during the foetal period compared to the postnatal animals. On an average, during the postnatal period the zona glomerulosa contributed 16.71 per cent, zona fasciculata 74.16 per cent and zona reticularis 9.13 per cent to the total cortical width. It was concluded that the stress induced on the growing foetus towards the end of gestation due to the insufficiency of placenta resulted in a higher activity of the cortex, particularly of the zona fasciculata under the influence of foetal ACTH. At parturition, exposure of the new born to the external environment induced severe stress which was responsible for the higher activity of the gland during early neonatal period. When the young one got acclimatized to the new surroundings, the stress was relieved which in turn resulted in the reduced activity of the gland by 45 days postpartum.ThesisItem Open Access Postnatal development of the upper digestive tract in the Japanese quail(Department of Anatomy, College of veterinary and animal sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Maya, S; KAU; Lucy PailyThe structure and postnatal development of the upper digestive tract of Japanese quails were studied using 72 birds aged from day-old to 60 days for proper understanding of their functional peculiarities. The growth, morphology and histology of the tongue, pharynx, cervical and thoracic parts of oesophagus, crop, proventriculus and gizzard were studied using six birds at each age group. The age groups studied were at three days interval upto 15 days and thereafter at five days interval upto 30 days and then at ten days interval upto 60 days of age. Maximum weight of each part was recorded at 60 days of age. But maximum contribution to body weight by each part occurred within the first week of age. The tongue, pharynx and oesophagus were lined by stratified squamous epithelium, which showed keratinization on the anterior two-third of the ventral surface of the tongue and on the papillae of the tongue and pharynx. Filiform, conical and fungiform papillae were present on the base of the tongue. The rostral lingual glands contained both serous and mucous end pieces, but posterior glands showed only mucous cells. The taste buds were associated with the glandular ducts. The skeleton of the tongue showed signs of ossification from 30th day of age, with the tip of the entoglossal bone remaining cartilaginous even upto 60 days of age. In the pharynx, pharyngeal tonsil and palatine, sphenopterygoid and cricoarytenoid salivary glands were noticed. In addition to mucous and pieces the medial palatine glands exhibited serous and pieces also. Within the choanal slit and laryngeal inlet the squamous epithelium changed into respiratory epithelium. Laryngeal cartilages were cricoids, procricoid and paired arytenoids. The oesophagus was represented by a long cervical and short thoracic parts with a diverticulum, the crop. The epithelium on the top of the longitudinal mucosal folds was higher in the cervical oesophagus. Mucous glands were present throughout the oesophagus and crop but much reduced in the greater curvature of the crop and lymphoid tissue was absent at the region. Muscularis mucosa and submucosa entered into the longitudinal folds. Tunica muscularis consisted of iner circular and outer longitudinal layers of smooth muscles. Tunica adventitia was the outermost layer. A well developed oesophageal tonsil was present at the oesophago- proventricular junction. THh spindle-shaped proventriculars had a mucosa studied with minute nodules. Surface epithelium consisted of cuboidal to columnar cells. Lamina propria contained simple tubular glands. Muscularis mucosa consisted of scattered bundles of longitudinagl smooth muscle fibres. The compound tubular glands in the submucosa were lined by oxyntico peptic cells which had a dentate appearance. Tunica muscularis consisted of inner and oter longitudinal and middle circular layers of smooth muscle fibres. Outermost was the serosa. At the isthmus, the glands and outer longitudinal muscle layer of proventriculus disappeared and the lamina propria contained glands similar to those of gizzard. The biconvex dis-shaped gizzard had a greater dorsoventral diameter than cranio – caudal diameter. Internal to the serous lining was the tendon layer which was thickest at the tendinous aponeurosis and absent at the blind sacs. The lateral muscles consisted of a single layer of smooth muscle where as the blind sacs had inner longitudinal and outer circular muscle layers. Submucosa was dense and the muscularis mucosa absent. The tubular gland in the lamina propria were lined mainly by chief cells, and few basal and intermediate cells.Tall columnar cells which showed supranuclear PAS positive reaction, constituted the surface epithelium. The gizzard lining consisted of arrays of vertical columns, secreted by the tubular glands and a matrix produced by surface cells. The junction of gizzard with duodenum was marked by a constriction of muscularis mucosa forming a fold of the muscularis and tunica propria. Posterior to the fold spatula –shaped duodenal villi and coiled tubular glands with goblet cells were observed.ThesisItem Open Access Postnatal development of the oviduct in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)(Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1994) Lucy, K M; KAU; Harshan, K RThe structure and postnatal development of the oviduct in quails were investigated using 72 birds aged from day-old to 60 days. The growth, morphology and histology of the oviduct were studied using six birds at each age group. In the day-old quail chick, the oviduct could seen as a narrow white translucent tube towards the left side of the coelom connected by dorsal and ventral ligaments. The sign of coiling was evident from 25 days of age. In the initial stages, the increase in weight and length of oviduct was in accordance with the growth of the bird. Rapid changes in the development of the organ occurred between 30 and 40 days of age and a sprut in growth was noticed from 40-60 days of age. In the day-old chick, the cranial regions of the oviduct corresponding to the infundibulum, magnum and isthmus were undifferentiated. Throughout the length of the oviduct, histological appearance was the same. The mucosa was thrown into low primary folds lined by simple columnar epithelium and there was subepithelial connective tissue containing densely packed cells with fine collagen and reticular fibres. The large number of luminal epithelial cells and the increase in height of the mucosal folds indicated entry into a rapid growth phase which started between 30 and 40 days of age. In the adult bird, the innermost epithelium of the different segments of the oviduct consisted of ciliated columnar cells and secretary goblet cells. Lamina propria was packed with tabular glands except in the funnel of infundibulum, magnum-isthumas junction and vagina. Bundles of collagen and a few elastic and reticular fibres constituted the core of the mucosal folds. Mucosal folds also contained lymphocytes in diffuse form and nodular aggregates. Thickness of the tunica muscularis increased from the anterior to the posterior end of the oviduct. Externally there was a typical serosa. Mucosal ridges of the thin walled funnel of the infundibulum were narrow and at the bases of these ridges were the glandular grooves. Tunica muscularis consisted of circularly arranged fibres and scattered bundles. Within the neck of the infundibulum, height of the mucosal ridges was more. Lining cells of the tubular glands showed PAS +ve reaction. Magnum was the longest and most coiled component of the oviduct, the wall of which was thicker due to the greatest development of tubular glands. Mucosal ridges of the isthumus were angular in appearance. Apex of the lining epithelium presented glycogen granules. Tunica muscularis consisted of inner circular and outer poorly developed longitudinal smooth muscle separated by loose connective tissue and blood vessels. Uterus was wider and thinner than the cranial portions in day-old bird itself. Secondary mucosal folds and scattered muscle fibres could be noticed at 15 days of age. In the adult bird, mucosal was thrown into numerous long, flat, discontinuous, spatula – shaped folds lined by alternating spical and basal cells. Lamina propria was loosely packed with tubular glands. Tunica muscularis was better developed with inner circular and irregular bundles and outer longitudinal muscle layer. Ultero – vaginal junction was characterized by the presence of sperm – host glands. In the vagina, mucosal folds were narrow and regular. Lining epithelium was higher . Musculature was thickest in this region. Acid and alkaline phosphatase activities were detected throughout the oviduct, the greatest activity being in the uterine region.ThesisItem Open Access Prenatal development of major lymphocenters and lymphatics in goats (Capra hircus)(College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2009) Asha, Antony; KAU; Maya, SPrenatal development of the major lymphocenters and lymphatics in goat was studied using 41 foetuses of various ages from 22 to 147 days of gestation. Morphogenesis and histogenesis of lymph nodes from five major lymphocenters, viz. parotid and mandibular from head, prescapular from neck, caudal mediastinal from thoracic cavity, jejunal mesenteric from abdominal viscera and prefemoral from abdominal wall and lymphatics, viz. tracheal and thoracic ducts and cisterna chyli were studied. During the first month, the lymphatic system presented six lymph sacs. By 22 days, paired jugular sacs and unpaired retroperitoneal sac appeared whereas, the cisterna chyli and paired iliac sacs appeared only by 24 days. Jugular sacs started to split into lymphatic spaces adjacent to the internal jugular vein and vagosympathetic trunk by 40 days. Retroperitoneal sac lay ventral to aorta, close to the root of the mesentery, near the kidney anlage and underwent regression by 53 days. Iliac sacs appeared near aorta, dorsolateral to Wolffian bodies and dorsomedial to metanephric kidneys and its onset of regression was by 50 days. Cisterna chyli appeared as a lymphatic space lateral to aorta and became a spindle-shaped dilatation at the level of last thoracic to first lumbar vertebra. By 48 days, thoracic duct formed the cranial continuation of cisterna chyli, near aorta. By 50 days, the tracheal lymph duct was seen in the developing carotid sheath. Valves appeared by fourth month in these ducts. Lymph sacs showed infiltration by lymphocytes and red blood cells by 48 days. The developing lymph nodes exhibited haemopoietic areas between 53 and 60 days. There was a progressive increase in the size of lymph nodes with age. The weight of the lymph nodes exhibited positive correlation with body weight, CRL and age. The superficial lymph nodes occurred as single ones and deep lymph nodes occurred in groups, with slight variation in position in some animals and slightly higher gross values for male animals and for the lymph nodes of right side. Capsule was undifferentiated up to 53 days and presented trabeculae by 75 days in parotid lymph node. The differentiated capsule presented dense fibrous connective tissue with collagen, elastic and smooth muscle fibers and was thicker where the cortex was more developed. Earliest aggregation of lymphocytes occurred in cortex by 60 days, in the parotid and mediastinal nodes. The nodular aggregations occurred by 75 days in the parotid lymph node, but by fifth month in all other nodes. Cortex was denser and thinner than the medulla. Medulla started differentiation by 75 days but macrophages and germinal centers were not detected till the end of gestation. Parotid and mandibular lymph nodes showed a similar pattern of development, but with a denser cortex for the latter. Prescapular lymph node presented lesser cortico-medullary differentiation than the corresponding stages in the lymph nodes of head. Even though the differentiation was slower during the initial stages, during the last month it became similar to that in the lymph nodes of head. Prefemoral lymph node followed a slower pattern of development with lesser number of trabeculae than parotid and prescapular lymph nodes. All lymph nodes presented nodular aggregation of lymphocytes in the cortex by fifth month, thereby attaining a structure similar to that in adults towards the end of gestation except for the absence of macrophages and reactive centers. Lymphocytic proliferation in the thymus preceded the appearance of lymphocytes in lymph nodes indicating these cells got differentiated first in the thymus. Contribution to the body weight of spleen and lymph nodes decreased towards the end of gestation indicating a similar development pattern. Only weak reactions were exhibited by the lymph nodes towards glycogen, acid and alkaline phosphatases and lipids. The superficial lymph nodes were encapsulated by deposition of fat from fourth month onwards.ThesisItem Open Access Postnatal development of the oviduct in the Kuttanad duck(Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)(College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2010) Patki Harshad, Sudhir; KAU; Lucy, K MThe structure and postnatal development of the oviduct in the Kuttanad duck was studied using 78 ducklings from day-old to 24 weeks of age. The material was collected from six birds in each group at fortnightly intervals. In the day-old duckling, the left oviduct could be seen as a thin, thread-like, translucent, straight tube towards the left side of the coelomic cavity supported by the dorsal and ventral ligaments. Uterus and vagina were recognizable even at this age. Among the 78 birds, persistent right oviduct could be detected in 20 birds. Signs of coiling of the oviduct were evident from 10th week onwards. All the five segments of the oviduct namely, infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus and vagina could be clearly distinguished from 12th week onwards. Rapid development of the organ occurred between 16 and 18 weeks at which stage a few birds started laying. A spurt in growth of the oviduct was noticed between 18 and 20 weeks when all the birds started laying. The contribution of oviduct to the body weight was 3.47% at 24th week of age. During postnatal period, correlation between age and the length of the oviduct was more significant than with the oviduct weight. Magnum was the longest and most coiled component. Isthmus, uterus and vagina were relatively longer.In the day-old duckling, the oviduct wall was not differentiated into different tunics and showed innermost simple columnar epithelium and subepithelial tissue. The lumen was flanked by characteristic low mucosal folds. At two weeks of age, the secondary mucosal folds started appearing. By 6th week, a very thin single layer of tunica muscularis appeared. The most dramatic growth and differentiation began at the age of 12 weeks when all the segments of the oviduct were differentiated morphologically and histologically. The tubular glands appeared as invaginations of surface epithelium and the mucosal folds became comparatively higher and broader at this age. Glands were absent in the funnel portion of infundibulum, magnum isthmus junction and vagina. The core of the mucosal fold showed numerous blood vessels. The lamina propria blended with the submucosa and muscularis mucosa was absent. Tunica muscularis was made up of inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers and the thickness gradually increased from the cranial to the caudal direction. Distinct serosal tunic was visible in adult birds. The funnel region of the infundibulum showed mainly low primary mucosal folds with a few secondary folds whereas in the neck region, numerous tertiary folds were also present. In the adult birds, there were four types of epithelial cells in the mucosa of neck namely non-secretory ciliated cells; non-ciliated mucous-secreting goblet cells; secretory cells other than goblet cells and lining cells of the tubular glands. Goblet cells increased in number caudally. At the infundibulum-magnum junction, groups of infundibular glands intermingled with tubular glands of the magnum.In the magnum, mucosal folds were wider and higher and were lined by monolayered simple columnar ciliated epithelium with a few goblet cells. The glands of lamina propria were arranged in a radiating manner from the core to the periphery. Magnum-isthmus junction was characterized by complete absence of tubular glands. In the isthmus, by four weeks, the primary folds attained characteristic angular shape. In the adult birds, compared to all other segments of the oviduct, the glands in the isthmus were more loosely arranged. Regular alteration of both ciliated and secretory non-ciliated columnar cells was noticed in the lining epithelium. Isthmus - uterine junction showed an intermingling of glands within the lamina propria. The mucosal folds of uterus were higher, leaf-shaped and were separated by deep furrows. Light cells and dark cells were visible in the lamina epithelialis. At 16th week, glandular development continued and the closely packed tubular glands in the mucosal folds were empty during non laying phase. But, prior to and during secretory phase, cells contained pale staining granules and after the shell formation, the cytoplasm was markedly vacuolated, with relatively large basal nucleus. Tunica muscularis was very thick with an inner circular and thicker outer longitudinal layers separated by loose connective tissue showing numerous vessels and nerves. At this age, smooth muscle fibres were observed to be extending to the core of the mucosal fold along with numerous collagen fibres. At utero-vaginal junction the sperm storage tubules appeared at 12 weeks of age and were located in a thick ring of pushed-in mucosal folds found in the lumen with the vaginal folds on one side and uterine folds on the other. Mucosal folds towards the uterine side of the cranial utero-vaginal ridge contained transitional glands, which intermediate in appearance between sperm storage tubules and uterine glands. The sperm storage tubules were more sparsely distributed but had larger diameter than the transitional and uterine glands.At two weeks of age, the vagina showed roughly triangular seven to eight primary folds lined by tall columnar cells interspersed with numerous goblet cells. Even at this age, tunica muscularis was well developed and differentiated into inner circular and outer longitudinal layers. By 12 weeks, the folds were characteristically filiform in appearance with secondary folds. The lamina propria was devoid of glands. Vagina showed the thickest tunica muscularis among different segments of the oviduct. Lamina propria of mucosal folds of the vagina showed large number of lymphocytes along with diffused blood cells from four weeks-old birds. As age advanced, all regions of the oviduct showed lymphocytes in diffuse as well as aggregated form which was maximum in the vaginal region. The goblet cells found throughout the oviduct showed intense P.A.S. positive reaction. The presence of neutral and acid mucopolysaccharides was identified using P.A.S. and Alcian blue (pH 2.5) method in the epithelium of isthmus region; while in magnum, only the acid mucopolysaccharides were seen. The sperm storage tubules and transitional glands showed presence of lipid. The presence of glycogen was observed only in the epithelial lining and tubular glands of isthmus region and was more pronounced in adult egg laying ducks with actively secreting glands. Marked alkaline phosphatase activity was seen in the uterus, isthmus and magnum. The activity of Acid phosphatase was observed in the epithelium and tubular glands of isthmus, shell gland and vagina.