Age-related histochemical investigations of small intestinal goblet cells in bronze turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo)

The aim of the study was to investigate the goblet cell types and their density in the small intestine of bronze turkey (Meleagris meleagris gallopovo), by means of Alcian blue-PAS staining. Sixty birds from 10 age groups were used. In the duodenum and jejunum, goblet cells produced acid, neutral and mixed mucins, while in the jejunum - acid mucins. A negative relationship was observed between cell density and either duodenum or jejunum lengths; such a correlation was not established in the ileum.