Distribution and localization of endocrine cells in the digestive system of chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar)

There are different types of endocrine cells that are located in the gastrointestinal system of birds and mammals. In birds, the digestive system anatomically completes the formation in the embryonic period, and in the period after hatching. Morphological and physiological differences with nutrition are formed and functionalized. The present study aimed to evaluate immunohistochemical distribution and localization of endocrine cells in the digestive tract of chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) using antisera against serotonin, somatostatin, gastrin, and glucagon. In this study, after 20 chukar partridges were slaughtered, organs of the digestive system were obtained and stained for immunohistochemical analysis. In our results, various densities of glucagon, gastrin serotonin, and somatostatin positive cells in the proventriculus and small intestine were found, but only serotonin positive cells were detected in the ventriculus of chukar partridges. In conclusion, the results showed the relative frequency and distribution of some endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract of chukar partridge. A comparison of endocrine cell distribution in other bird species is an important topic to understand the digestive physiology for future investigation.