CHEMICAL BURSECTOMY OF CHICKENS WITH COLCHICINE APPLIED TO THE ANAL LIPS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 100  (1) , 193-207
Abstract
To induce chemical bursectomy, 30 .mu.l colchicine dissolved in saline solution (1 mg/ml) was applied on the anal lips of White Leghorn chickens once daily for 4 consecutive days after hatching. Histologic characteristics of the bursa of Fabricius, spleen, thymus, cecal tonsils and rectal wall were studied for 1-7 days after hatching. Total necrosis of the lymphoid cells and the follicle-associated epithelium in the bursa was observed during the 4 days of colchicine application. The bursal stroma remained unchanged; only minor changes were found in the interfollicular surface epithelium. After colchicine application ceased, some regeneration of the epithelium, as evidenced by small epithelial buds, was found. At the end of the observation period the epithelial buds were often covered by the follicle-associated epithelium, which was capable of phagocytizing C. Practically no lymphoid repopulation was seen in the buds. Since this method of colchicine application had no direct effect on other lymphoid organs or on the survival or weight of the chickens, this bursectomy model seems to be a new tool for use in studies of bursal function.