Fine structure of the ependymal cells in the area postrema of the domestic fowl

Summary The ultrastructure of the ependymal cells in the area postrema of the domestic fowl was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The ependymal surface of the area postrema is covered with many furrows and ridges. These ridges consist of ependymal cells aggregated in a fan-like shape. The ependymal cell lacks clustered cilia, microvilli are few, and a long basal process extends through the parenchymal layer of the area postrema. Within the cytoplasm as well as in the basal process, a spherical body with a diameter ranging from 1.5 to 2 gmm is occasionally observed.This work was supported by a Scientific Research Grant, No. 144017, from the Ministry of Education of Japan to Professor M. YasudaThe authors are grateful to Drs. T. Fujioka and T. Watanabe for their valuable advice     

Immunocytochemical demonstration of met-enkephalin in the central nervous system of the domestic fowl

Summary In the central nervous system of the male domestic fowl, met-enkephalin (ENK) immunoreactive perikarya and fiber tracts as well as extensive but sharply delimited fiber networks were visualized by means of the PAP technique. The most striking results were: (1) The demonstration of an association of ENK-containing structures with branchial nerves; (2) the spatial relationship of ENK-containing perikarya and fibers to somatostatin (SOM) and arginine-vasotocin (AVT)-immunoreactive systems; (3) the presence of dense and extensive ENK fiber networks within (a) the caudo-basal wall of the third ventricle and (b) the septal-preoptic area; in both regions mainly ENK fibers, but also SOM and AVT fibers, may cross to the contralateral side.     

Chemical control of Ornithonyssus sylviarum on caged layer hens

Manual application of aqueous solutions of malathion, carbaryl and permethrin controlled northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum Canestrini and Fanzago, on caged layer hens for at least 118 days. Azamethiphos sprayed manually provided acceptable control for a shorter period. Machine application, particularly of azamethiphos, but also malathion, provided lesser control. The addition of surfactant increased the wetting ability of the sprays but interfered with the efficacy of azamethiphos.     

Expression of neuron-specific enolase in the pineal organ of the domestic fowl during post-hatching development

Immunohistochemistry for neuron-specific enolase (NSE) revealed that NSE is localized in both a limited number of pinealocytes and intrinsic afferent neurons in the pineal organ of the domestic fowl. Furthermore, a computer-assisted three-dimensional imaging technique allowed to clarify the reverse distributional pattern of both elements: NSE-positive pinealocytes displayed a dense distribution especially in the vesicular portion of the gland, whereas NSE-immunoreactive nerve cells were mainly found in the pineal stalk. The number of NSE-positive intrinsic neurons in the pineal organ of chickens decreased rapidly after hatching, with a concentration of these elements in the basal portion (stalk) of the pineal organ. On the other hand, immunoreactive pinealocytes increased remarkably in the end-vesicle of the organ with age, followed by a gradual expansion toward the proximal portion. Thus, the spectacular increase in NSE-positive pinealocytes and the progressive reduction of reactive neurons occurred in parallel during the course of post-hatching development. NSE-immunoreactive pinealocytes displayed morphological characteristics of bipolar elements, endowed with an apical protrusion into the pineal lumen and a short basal process at younger stages, whereas multipolar types of NSE-positive pinealocytes were predominantly found in the adult domestic fowl. These results indicate that in the pineal organ of the domestic fowl (1) the ontogenetic expansion of NSE-immunoreactive pinealocytes is paralleled by a regressive afferent innervation, (2) the NSE-positive pinealocytes transform from a bipolar (columnar) type to a multipolar type during post-hatching development, and (3) these ontogenetic changes in the NSE-immunoreactivity and morphology of pinealocytes may reflect the development of a neurosecretory-like capacity of the organ.