Effect of sex on histomorphometric properties of Langerhans islets in native chickens

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of gender on the distribution of pancreatic islets in native chicken. Ten adult male and ten adult female Isfahan native chickens were used in this experiment. Results showed a distinct sexual dimorphism in the native chicken pancreas which depends upon the various fractions of the pancreatic lobes, which were occupied by alpha, beta and mixed islets. In both sexes, the islets were more frequently found in the splenic and the third lobes, whereas they were more scarcely observed in the ventral and the dorsal lobes. In both sexes, there were no alpha islets in the dorsal and ventral pancreatic lobes. The mean percentage of beta islets in the third and splenic lobes were significantly greater in males than females (<em>p </em>< 0.05). However, the mean percentage of mixed islets in the third and splenic lobes were significantly greater in females than males (<em>p</em> < 0.05). The mean percentage of the alpha islets in the splenic and third lobes and the mean percentage of beta and mixed islets in the dorsal and ventral lobes was similar in both sexes in chickens. There was no sex difference in the mean percentage of whole gland islets (<em>p</em> > 0.05).