Acta Vet. Brno 2006, 75: 157-160

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb200675020157

Morpho-structural Study of the Pancreas and Pancreatic Duct in Ostrich (Struthio camelus L.)

M. R. Stornelli, M. P. Ricciardi, V. Miragliotta, A. Coli, E. Giannessi

Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology, Pisa, Italy

Received June 25, 2005
Accepted March 16, 2006

The peculiarity of the digestive process in ostrich and the lack of bibliographic data on the pancreas and its excretory system in this species led us to undertake macroscopical and histological investigations to explore possible differences compared to other avian species. Our findings demonstrated the presence of two pancreatic lobes, dorsal and ventral, and a third lobe, the splenic lobe, detectable only histologically. The most interesting data concerned the number, course, drainage and structural peculiarities of the pancreatic duct. The structural and ultrastructural features of the two cell types lining the pancreatic duct (main cells and globose cells) were suggestive of their role in secretion and resorption of the pancreatic juice. The results allow the understanding of the particular digestive process of this species.

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