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Research Note: Position of Meckel’s Diverticulum in Broiler-Type Chickens
Research Note: Position of Meckel's Diverticulum in Broiler-Type Chickens S. L. BRANTON,1 B. D. LOTT,1 G. W. MORGAN,2 and J. W. DEATON1 US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, South Central Poultry Research Laboratory, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 and Poultry Science Department, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 (Received for publication July 17, 1987)
1988 Poultry Science 67:677-679 INTRODUCTION
In the developing chick embryo, the yolk stalk is the peduncle that attaches the yolk sac to the intestines and is the means whereby the vitelline blood vessels enter the embryo. Likewise, in the posthatch chick, significant amounts of yolk may pass through the yolk stalk into the intestine (Romanoff, 1960), and some may be absorbed by the epithelial lining of the yolk stalk (Kar, 1947). Latimer (1924) reported that regression of the yolk sac appears to begin by 36 days of age and that it disappears either by detaching from the yolk stalk and becoming a spherical structure in the abdominal cavity or by embedding in the abdominal wall. The yolk stalk continues to grow after hatch (Kar, 1947; Olah and Glick, 1984) and persists throughout the life of both sexes of the domestic fowl as an appendage of the small intestine (Muthman, 1913; Latimer, 1924; Calhoun, 1933; Kar, 1947). It is known as diverticulum
'South Central Poultry Research Laboratory, Mississippi State, MS. 2 Poultry Science Department, Mississippi State University.
677
caecum vitelli (Nickel et al., 1977) and is commonly referred to as Meckel's diverticulum (MD). The position of MD is generally considered to be located near the midpoint of the total intestinal length. Sturkie (1976) states that the remnant of the yolk stalk may be found about midway along the small intestine. Similarly, Romanoff (1960), citing Maumus (1902), states that slightly more than 40% of the total intestinal length intervenes between the anus and the papilla that constitutes the opening of the yolk stalk into the intestine. Therefore, the research objective was to determine whether MD occurs in a constant position relative to the total intestinal length in both male and female chickens. MATERIALS AND METHODS
One hundred and four commercial, feathersexed, broiler-type chicks were used in each of three trials. All trials were conducted in an environmentally controlled house which was equipped with 51 x 122 X 35-cm cages as described by Reece et al. (1971). In each of the three trials 13 chicks were placed in each of eight cages, with four cages of males and four cages of females with a resultant bird density of 479 cm2/bird. Temperature of the house was
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on May 20, 2015
ABSTRACT In each of three trials broiler-type chickens were used to determine whether Meckel's diverticulum resides in a constant position along the intestinal tract. Chickens were provided a basal diet ad libitum through 49 (Trials 2 and 3) or 52 days of age (Trial 1). Body weight and total intestine length as well as the lengths of the intestine from the gizzard to Meckel's diverticulum (GMD) and from Meckel's diverticulum (MD) to the cecal openings (MDC) were then recorded. When intestine length was expressed as a percentage of body weight, significant differences were noted between sexes. However, no significant differences were observed between sexes for either GMD or MDC relative to total intestinal length. Results of this study indicate that MD resides in a constant position along the length of the intestinal tract. This constancy of position supports the use of MD as a boundary point of the intestine. (Key words: chicken, yolk stalk, intestine, Meckel's diverticulum, location)
678
BRANTON ET AL. TABLE 1. Intestine length (IL) and selected intestinal ratios of broiler-type chickens (49 to 52 days of age, three trials)1
Sex
Trial
Male
1 2 3
Female
1 2 3
GMD:IL2
MDC:IL3
BW
IL
(g)
(cm/100 gBW)
2,310 ± 38 2,397 ± 6 1 2,150 ± 4 3
8.2 ± . l l c 8.0 ± . 1 3 c d 7.8 ± . 1 5 d
56.3 ± .29* 56.4 ± .25* 56.6 ± . 3 0 *
39.8 ± . 3 1 * 39.4 ± . 2 8 * 39.6 ± . 2 5 *
1,932 ± 26 2,038 ± 24 1,825 ± 2 9
9.3 ± . 1 3 * 8.7 ± . 1 0 b 8.1 ± . 1 5 c d
56.4 ± .19* 56.7 ± . 2 9 * 56.4 + . 2 6 *
40.0 ± .26* 38.7 ± . 3 0 * 39.6 ± .26*
(%)
a - d Within each column, means with no common superscripts are significantly different (P<.05). Each value represents the mean ± SEM of 44 or more observations. GMD = Gizzard to Meckel's diverticulum.
maintained at 29.4 C for the 1st wk, 26.7 C for the 2nd wk, 23.9 C the 3rd wk, and 21.1 C beginning with the 4th wk and continuing through the end of the experiment in each of the three trials. Light was continuous at an intensity of 54 lx for the 1st wk and then reduced to 11 lx until the end of each trial. A two-diet system consisting of a 21% protein, 3,125 kcal ME/kg feed starter and a 20% protein, 3,200 kcal ME/kg feed finisher diet was used in all trials. Chickens were maintained through 21 days of age on the starter diet. At 22 days of age, all birds were placed on the finisher diet which was fed through 49 days of age in Trials 2 and 3 and through 52 days of age in Trial 1. Birds were euthanized, and the entire intestinal tract was removed. The duodenal loop was straightened, and, with care taken not to stretch the tract, the total intestinal length from the gizzard to the cloaca was measured. Measurement of the proximal intestine, i.e., from the gizzard to MD (GMD), was recorded as was the measurement of the distal intestine, i.e., from MD to the cecal opening (MDC). Statistical analysis of the data were made by analysis of variance in accordance with the procedure outlined by Steel and Torrie (1980). In the analysis of these data, a fixed model for both trials and intestine length was used. Arc sin transformation was performed on all percentage data. Significant differences among treatment means were separated by the multiple range test of Duncan (1955).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Significant differences (P^.05) were determined to exist for sex and trials for total intestinal length expressed as a percentage of body weight (Table 1). However, neither differences between ratios of GMD to total intestinal length nor ratios of MDC to total intestinal length were significantly different either for sex or trial. Although the authors did not attempt to determine the reason for the differences observed in total intestinal length, the data demonstrate MD was found at the same relative point in both the longer and shorter intestines. These data support the concept that the position of MD relative to total intestine length is constant. Further, Maumus (1902) and Sturkie (1976) both reported that MD may be found about the midpoint of the small intestine. Data from the present study are in agreement with these reports in that MD was found to reside at a point approximately 56.5% of the distance from the gizzard to the cloaca, i.e., somewhat distal to the absolute midpoint of the small intestine. Further, the constancy of this finding for different sexes and across trials can be noted (Table 1). These results support the use of MD as a boundary point as indicated by Duke (1986). In particular, MD may provide a useful boundary point in both poultry nutritional and enteric disease investigations. REFERENCES Calhoun, M. L., 1933. The microscopic anatomy of the
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on May 20, 2015
MDC = MD to cecal opening.
RESEARCH NOTE
W. G. Siller and P.A.L. Wight, ed. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY. Olah, I., and B. Glick, 1984. Meckel's diverticulum. I. Extramedullary myelopoiesis in the yolk sac of hatched chickens (Gallus domesticus). Anat. Rec. 208:243252. Reece, F. N., J. W. Deaton, J. D. May, and K. N. May, 1971. Cage versus floor-rearing of broiler chickens. Poultry Sci. 50:1786-1790. Romanoff, A. L., 1960. The extraembryonic membranes. Pages 1077-1080 in: The Avian Embryo, Structural and Functional Development. MacMillan, New York, NY. Steel, R.G.D., and J. H. Torrie, 1980. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, NY. Sturkie, P. D., 1976. Chapter 9. Alimentary canal: anatomy, prehension, deglutition, feeding, drinking, passage of ingesta, and motility. Page 187 in: Avian Physiology. 3rd ed. P. D. Sturkie, ed. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on May 20, 2015
digestive tract of Gallus domesticus. Iowa State J. Sci. 7:261-381. Duke, G. E., 1986. Chapter 11. Alimentary canal: anatomy, regulation of feeding, and motility. Page 272 in: Avian Physiology. 4th ed. P. D. Sturkie, ed. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY. Duncan, D. B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11:1—4-2. Kar, A. B., 1947. Fate of the yolk-stalk in domestic fowl. Poultry Sci. 26:108-110. Latimer, H. B., 1924. Postnatal growth of the body, systems, and organs of the Single-Comb White Leghorn chicken. J. Agric. Res. 29:363-397. Maumus, J., 1902. Le troisieme caecum. Anat. Sci. Natl. Zool. Ser. 8, 15:65-69. Muthman, E., 1913. Bietrage zur vergleichende anatomie der klinddarmes der lymphoiden organe des darmkanales bei saugetieren ad vogeln. Anat. Heft. 48:67-114. Nickel, R., A. Schummer, andE. Seiferle, 1977. Digestive system. Page 52 in: Anatomy of the Domestic Birds.
679
1988 Poultry Science 67:677-679 INTRODUCTION
In the developing chick embryo, the yolk stalk is the peduncle that attaches the yolk sac to the intestines and is the means whereby the vitelline blood vessels enter the embryo. Likewise, in the posthatch chick, significant amounts of yolk may pass through the yolk stalk into the intestine (Romanoff, 1960), and some may be absorbed by the epithelial lining of the yolk stalk (Kar, 1947). Latimer (1924) reported that regression of the yolk sac appears to begin by 36 days of age and that it disappears either by detaching from the yolk stalk and becoming a spherical structure in the abdominal cavity or by embedding in the abdominal wall. The yolk stalk continues to grow after hatch (Kar, 1947; Olah and Glick, 1984) and persists throughout the life of both sexes of the domestic fowl as an appendage of the small intestine (Muthman, 1913; Latimer, 1924; Calhoun, 1933; Kar, 1947). It is known as diverticulum
'South Central Poultry Research Laboratory, Mississippi State, MS. 2 Poultry Science Department, Mississippi State University.
677
caecum vitelli (Nickel et al., 1977) and is commonly referred to as Meckel's diverticulum (MD). The position of MD is generally considered to be located near the midpoint of the total intestinal length. Sturkie (1976) states that the remnant of the yolk stalk may be found about midway along the small intestine. Similarly, Romanoff (1960), citing Maumus (1902), states that slightly more than 40% of the total intestinal length intervenes between the anus and the papilla that constitutes the opening of the yolk stalk into the intestine. Therefore, the research objective was to determine whether MD occurs in a constant position relative to the total intestinal length in both male and female chickens. MATERIALS AND METHODS
One hundred and four commercial, feathersexed, broiler-type chicks were used in each of three trials. All trials were conducted in an environmentally controlled house which was equipped with 51 x 122 X 35-cm cages as described by Reece et al. (1971). In each of the three trials 13 chicks were placed in each of eight cages, with four cages of males and four cages of females with a resultant bird density of 479 cm2/bird. Temperature of the house was
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on May 20, 2015
ABSTRACT In each of three trials broiler-type chickens were used to determine whether Meckel's diverticulum resides in a constant position along the intestinal tract. Chickens were provided a basal diet ad libitum through 49 (Trials 2 and 3) or 52 days of age (Trial 1). Body weight and total intestine length as well as the lengths of the intestine from the gizzard to Meckel's diverticulum (GMD) and from Meckel's diverticulum (MD) to the cecal openings (MDC) were then recorded. When intestine length was expressed as a percentage of body weight, significant differences were noted between sexes. However, no significant differences were observed between sexes for either GMD or MDC relative to total intestinal length. Results of this study indicate that MD resides in a constant position along the length of the intestinal tract. This constancy of position supports the use of MD as a boundary point of the intestine. (Key words: chicken, yolk stalk, intestine, Meckel's diverticulum, location)
678
BRANTON ET AL. TABLE 1. Intestine length (IL) and selected intestinal ratios of broiler-type chickens (49 to 52 days of age, three trials)1
Sex
Trial
Male
1 2 3
Female
1 2 3
GMD:IL2
MDC:IL3
BW
IL
(g)
(cm/100 gBW)
2,310 ± 38 2,397 ± 6 1 2,150 ± 4 3
8.2 ± . l l c 8.0 ± . 1 3 c d 7.8 ± . 1 5 d
56.3 ± .29* 56.4 ± .25* 56.6 ± . 3 0 *
39.8 ± . 3 1 * 39.4 ± . 2 8 * 39.6 ± . 2 5 *
1,932 ± 26 2,038 ± 24 1,825 ± 2 9
9.3 ± . 1 3 * 8.7 ± . 1 0 b 8.1 ± . 1 5 c d
56.4 ± .19* 56.7 ± . 2 9 * 56.4 + . 2 6 *
40.0 ± .26* 38.7 ± . 3 0 * 39.6 ± .26*
(%)
a - d Within each column, means with no common superscripts are significantly different (P<.05). Each value represents the mean ± SEM of 44 or more observations. GMD = Gizzard to Meckel's diverticulum.
maintained at 29.4 C for the 1st wk, 26.7 C for the 2nd wk, 23.9 C the 3rd wk, and 21.1 C beginning with the 4th wk and continuing through the end of the experiment in each of the three trials. Light was continuous at an intensity of 54 lx for the 1st wk and then reduced to 11 lx until the end of each trial. A two-diet system consisting of a 21% protein, 3,125 kcal ME/kg feed starter and a 20% protein, 3,200 kcal ME/kg feed finisher diet was used in all trials. Chickens were maintained through 21 days of age on the starter diet. At 22 days of age, all birds were placed on the finisher diet which was fed through 49 days of age in Trials 2 and 3 and through 52 days of age in Trial 1. Birds were euthanized, and the entire intestinal tract was removed. The duodenal loop was straightened, and, with care taken not to stretch the tract, the total intestinal length from the gizzard to the cloaca was measured. Measurement of the proximal intestine, i.e., from the gizzard to MD (GMD), was recorded as was the measurement of the distal intestine, i.e., from MD to the cecal opening (MDC). Statistical analysis of the data were made by analysis of variance in accordance with the procedure outlined by Steel and Torrie (1980). In the analysis of these data, a fixed model for both trials and intestine length was used. Arc sin transformation was performed on all percentage data. Significant differences among treatment means were separated by the multiple range test of Duncan (1955).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Significant differences (P^.05) were determined to exist for sex and trials for total intestinal length expressed as a percentage of body weight (Table 1). However, neither differences between ratios of GMD to total intestinal length nor ratios of MDC to total intestinal length were significantly different either for sex or trial. Although the authors did not attempt to determine the reason for the differences observed in total intestinal length, the data demonstrate MD was found at the same relative point in both the longer and shorter intestines. These data support the concept that the position of MD relative to total intestine length is constant. Further, Maumus (1902) and Sturkie (1976) both reported that MD may be found about the midpoint of the small intestine. Data from the present study are in agreement with these reports in that MD was found to reside at a point approximately 56.5% of the distance from the gizzard to the cloaca, i.e., somewhat distal to the absolute midpoint of the small intestine. Further, the constancy of this finding for different sexes and across trials can be noted (Table 1). These results support the use of MD as a boundary point as indicated by Duke (1986). In particular, MD may provide a useful boundary point in both poultry nutritional and enteric disease investigations. REFERENCES Calhoun, M. L., 1933. The microscopic anatomy of the
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on May 20, 2015
MDC = MD to cecal opening.
RESEARCH NOTE
W. G. Siller and P.A.L. Wight, ed. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY. Olah, I., and B. Glick, 1984. Meckel's diverticulum. I. Extramedullary myelopoiesis in the yolk sac of hatched chickens (Gallus domesticus). Anat. Rec. 208:243252. Reece, F. N., J. W. Deaton, J. D. May, and K. N. May, 1971. Cage versus floor-rearing of broiler chickens. Poultry Sci. 50:1786-1790. Romanoff, A. L., 1960. The extraembryonic membranes. Pages 1077-1080 in: The Avian Embryo, Structural and Functional Development. MacMillan, New York, NY. Steel, R.G.D., and J. H. Torrie, 1980. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, NY. Sturkie, P. D., 1976. Chapter 9. Alimentary canal: anatomy, prehension, deglutition, feeding, drinking, passage of ingesta, and motility. Page 187 in: Avian Physiology. 3rd ed. P. D. Sturkie, ed. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on May 20, 2015
digestive tract of Gallus domesticus. Iowa State J. Sci. 7:261-381. Duke, G. E., 1986. Chapter 11. Alimentary canal: anatomy, regulation of feeding, and motility. Page 272 in: Avian Physiology. 4th ed. P. D. Sturkie, ed. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY. Duncan, D. B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11:1—4-2. Kar, A. B., 1947. Fate of the yolk-stalk in domestic fowl. Poultry Sci. 26:108-110. Latimer, H. B., 1924. Postnatal growth of the body, systems, and organs of the Single-Comb White Leghorn chicken. J. Agric. Res. 29:363-397. Maumus, J., 1902. Le troisieme caecum. Anat. Sci. Natl. Zool. Ser. 8, 15:65-69. Muthman, E., 1913. Bietrage zur vergleichende anatomie der klinddarmes der lymphoiden organe des darmkanales bei saugetieren ad vogeln. Anat. Heft. 48:67-114. Nickel, R., A. Schummer, andE. Seiferle, 1977. Digestive system. Page 52 in: Anatomy of the Domestic Birds.
679