| Summary: | Background: Avian adrenal gland is one of the most important endocrine glands as it regulates several vital physiological functions. Removal of such gland leads to death of bird.
Objective: The present investigation aims to illustrate morphological, histocytological and histochemical features of adrenal gland of Adult Egyptian native breeds of Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) by means of gross anatomy, light and transmission electron microscope.
Materials and methods: Thirty chickens of 6 months old were collected from Beni-Suef province, Egypt. Immediately after sacrifying the birds, right and left adrenals were subjected to histomorphological, histochemical and ultrastructural examinations.
Results: Grossly, the adrenal glands were situated cranio-medially to the kidneys with yellowish color. Histologically, they were ensheathed with thin collagenous connective tissue capsule containing many blood vessels and associated with numerous autonomic ganglia. The parenchyma was composed of mixture of cortical and medullary tissues as well as numerous blood sinusoids. The cortical tissues were demarcated in two distinct zones; subcapsular and inner. The cells of subcapsular cortical zone (SCZ) contained more lipid droplets and less mitochondria than the inner cortical cells do. Two types of chromaffin cells were distinguished; epinephrine (E-) and norepinephrine (NE-) producing cells. The former contained spherical moderate electron-dense secretory granules. The latter contained abundant pleomorphic intensely electron-dense secretory granules.
Conclusion: Higher cortical tissues on the expense of medullary ones may be the need for increased production of adrenal cortical hormones (glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids) in the chicken that lives in areas which water conservation is important.
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