Study of morphological and histological properties of the pancreas in crow (Linnaecus corvus) and Iraqi black partridge (Melanoperdix niger).

Background: The structures of the pancreas in crow (Linnaecus corvus) and Iraqi black partridge (Melanoperdix niger) were the targets for histological and morphometric differences in both birds.

Aim: To study the comparative histomorphology of the pancreas in two species black partridge and local crow.

Methods: Five healthy black partridge and five local crows were used in the current study.

Results: The anatomical study reveals that the pancreas in both species is situated within the coelomic compartment on the right side. It is composed of four lobes including splenic, ventral, third, and dorsal lobes. It showed three ducts of the pancreas located between two duodenal limbs. Histologically, the pancreas of both birds contained two portions, endocrine and exocrine zone. The portion that occupied a large area of the pancreas was the exocrine which consisted of acini made of pyramid cells varying in shape and size. In black partridge, the acini have centroacinar cells but no centroacinar in crow. The duct system starting from the intercalated duct, interlobular and terminated by the main duct was folded with line simple columnar epithelium. The islet Langerhans was oval in black partridge and had a distinctive border containing two types of cells (Alpha and Beta), while a Delta, in addition to Alpha Beta cells, was detected in the crow islet Langerhans which was a sphincter in shape.

Conclusion: The pancreas of both bird black partridge (Melanoperdix niger) and crow (Linnaecus corvus) was a lobulated organ, that has a similar location in coelomic cavity. The pancreas in the crow was longer. In addition to the presence of some differences in histological structures between the two birds, a better understanding of the function of the pancreas in these species is needed.