Anatomy, Histology and Histochemistry of the Salt Glands of the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber roseus (Aves, Phoenicopteridae)

The present investigation aimed to study the morphological, histological and histochemical characterizations of the salt glands of the greater flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber roseus. The results of the present investigation shows that the greater flamingo has a well developed bilateral salt glands which consist of an array of secretory lobules surrounded by richly vascularised connective tissue. Each lobe is made of a mass of branched secretory tubules radiate from central canal and enmeshed in one cell layer blood capillaries. The secretory tubule consists of simple columnar epithelium surrounding a narrow lumen showing round basal cells at their terminal segments. The secretory tubules and central canals drain in a main duct leads to the anterior of the nasal cavity. The results reveal that the secretory tubules of the gland elaborate proteins, sialomucins and sulfomucins but are devoid of glycogen and neutral mucosubstances. The structure and functions of the salt glands are reviewed within the context of the results of the present study.