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The histological structure and histochemistry of the mucosa of the nasal conchae in geese, Anser anser

Abstract We investigated the histological structure and histochemistry of the nasal conchae of geese and compared these structures with those of other avian species. The rostral, middle and caudal conchae were dissected from the nasal cavity of eight geese, fixed in Carnoy’s solution and embedded in paraffin. The entrance of the rostral concha was lined by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, which toward the middle concha was replaced by modified keratinized squamous epithelium, the deep layer of which opened into tubular glandular structures containing secretory epithelium on crypt-like invaginations. The lamina propria of the rostral concha contained numerous Grandry’s and Herbst corpuscles, which are pressure-sensitive receptors peculiar to waterfowl. The lamina propria of the middle concha contained solitary lymphoid follicles and lymphocyte infiltrations. The cartilaginous component of the middle concha was highly convoluted and resembled a spiral of two and a half scrolls, which were lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium. We observed that unlike mammals, this epithelium contained mostly intraepithelial alveolar glands rather than goblet cells. The caudal concha was similar to the middle concha, but less convoluted. It was lined by olfactory epithelium and its lamina propria contained serous Bowman’s glands as well as olfactory nerve fibers. Histochemical examination demonstrated that while none of the conchae contained sulfated mucins, except for the cartilage, the intraepithelial glands of the rostral and middle conchae contained mostly carboxylated acidic mucin and some neutral mucin, and were thus of the mixed type. The outermost scroll of the spiral of the middle concha contained some periodate-Schiff stained mucins. Of the glands of the mucosa of the middle concha, the deep tubuloalveolar glands in the convex parts of the scrolls contained primarily acidic mucins, while the shallow intraepithelial alveolar glands in the concave parts of the scrolls contained primarily neutral mucins. Our findings indicate that the rostral and caudal conchae primarily have a sensory function and the middle concha participates in mucosal defense.