DhilleswaraRao .S (MAJOR)RAJU .N.K.BSAMATHA .VVAMSI KRISHNA .P2024-07-082024-07-082024-02https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810211570The present study was conducted on thirty six(36) apparently healthy laying Rajasri fowls. The study was carried out in laying birds of same age group ranging from 26 to 28 weeks. The average lengths and weights of oviduct and its five major divisions like infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus and vagina were individually measured. The histomorphological and histochemical characteristics of the oviduct was studied by using light microscope. The wall of oviduct composed of tunica mucosa, lamina propria sub mucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa from inside to outside. The length of mucosal fold and height of epithelium and lamina propria submucosa and thickness of tunica muscularis of different segments were measured by using ocular and stage micrometer under light microscope. The tunica mucosa of funnel part of infundibulum was projected into mucosal folds which were lower in height when compared to posterior part of infundibulum in laying Rajasri fowl. The luminal epithelium was lined by simple columnar epithelium and consists of non ciliated cells, ciliated cells and goblet cells. The lamina propria sub mucosa was extended into the core of mucosal folds, but the tubular glands were absent. The tunica muscularis was well represented with inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers. The tunica serosa which was outermost layer was comprised of loose connective tissue and it was lined by simple columnar epithelium. The mucosal folds in magnum were leaf like in shape and are longer in length when compared to infundibulum. It was lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium along with non ciliated cells. The lamina propria submucosa was packed with long branched tubular glands. These mucosal folds of isthmus were lower in height when compared to magnum. The thickness of tunica muscularis was almost similar to that of magnum and it contained nerve fibres and blood vessels in between the layers of muscle fibres. The lamina propria submucosa of uterus was consisted of highly vascularized loose connective tissue with branched tubular glands. The tubular glands were densely packed and were separated from each other by collagen, reticular and nerve fibres. The tunica muscularis of uterus was thicker than the other parts of oviduct in laying Rajasri fowl. The tunica mucosa of vagina was raised into numerous longitudinal mucosal folds and these are narrow when compared to other parts of oviduct in laying Rajasri fowl. The sperm host glands were observed in uterovaginal junction and the cytoplasm of this sperm hostage glands was vacuolated with lipid inclusions. The inner circular smooth muscle layer of vagina was strongly developed and forms the vaginal sphincter at the opening of cloaca. The apices of lining epithelium of mucosal folds in infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus and vagina of oviduct showed the PAS strong +VE reaction indicating the presence of mucopolysaccharides in laying Rajasri fowl. They also showed the positive for alcian blue and indicated the presence of acid mucopolysaccharides. The glycogen content was observed at the apical regions of the non secretory cells in the lining epithelium of mucosal folds of oviduct in laying Rajasri fowl.EnglishThesis