Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Kafkas Universitesi Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi, cilt.17, sa.1, ss.89-94, 2011 (SCI-Expanded)
This study was aimed at the investigation of the structure of conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue (CALT) in the ostrich(Struthio camelus). The upper and lower eyelids of 5 healthy adult ostriches obtained from a slaughterhouse constituted thematerial of the study. Aggregated lymphoid follicles occupied a large area beneath the fibrous flap in the lower palpebralconjunctiva, while their distribution in the upper palpebral conjunctiva was observed to be limited to regions near thenasolacrimal punctum. Light microscopic examination revealed the conjunctival epithelium to differ between non-lymphoidand lymphoid regions. Non-lymphoid regions had pseudostratified prismatic epithelium containing goblet cells. Follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) in lymphoid regions was composed of single-layered squamous epithelium without goblet cells.Aggregated and/or solitary lymphoid follicles were present in the subepithelium. Dome area, germinal centre, corona andinterfollicular region were able to be distinguished in lymphoid follicles. Furthermore, interfollicular regions contained highendothelial venules, which are involved in lymphocyte migration. Electron microscopic examination demonstrated that FAE wasclosely associated with immune system cells. Cells, which resembled typical M cells in having short, thick apical micro-folds and vesicles, were present in the FAE. In the present study, the structure of CALT was demonstrated in the ostrich (Struthio camelus), based on macroscopic, microscopic and ultrastructural findings.