Morpho-structural study of the pancreas and pancreatic duct in ostrich (Struthio camelus L.)

The peculiarity of the digestive process in ostrich and the lack of bibliographic data on the pancreas and its excretory system in this species led us to undertake macroscopical and histological investigations to explore possible differences compared to other avian species. Our findings demonstrated the presence of two pancreatic lobes, dorsal and ventral, and a third lobe, the splenic lobe, detectable only histologically. The most interesting data concerned the number, course, drainage and structural peculiarities of the pancreatic duct. The structural and ultrastructural features of the two cell types lining the pancreatic duct (main cells and globose cells) were suggestive of their role in secretion and resorption of the pancreatic juice. The results allow the understanding of the particular digestive process of this species.