Nasal conchae in nandanam chicken- gross, histological and immunohistochemical study

Abstract

Unlike mammals, birds have a unique respiratory tract that conditioning of inspired air takes place only within the nasal cavity alone. Nasal conchae are scroll-like structures situated on either side of the nasal cavity and lined by mucous membrane. Nasal conchae perform this function by counter-current heat exchange mechanism. The study was performed to document the gross and histoarchitectural details of rostral, middle and caudal conchae in Nandanam Chicken. The framework of the conchae is made of hyaline cartilage. The mucosa is lined by stratified squamous keratinized epithelium, pseudostratified ciliated columnar and olfactory epithelium in rostral, middle and caudal conchae respectively. Intraepithelial glands are made of mucus type in rostral and middle conchae serous variety located in propria-submucosa in caudal concha. Nasal cavity associated lymphoid tissue is made of CD3+ T lymphocytes.