Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026
Assessing Species-specific Contributions To Craniofacial Development Using Quail-duck Chimeras
Published on: May 31, 2014
Developmental changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis in the normal duck bursa of Fabricius
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China.fangjing4109@163.com.
Insights
Cell proliferation in duck bursa of Fabricius decreases with age, while apoptosis increases. These findings explain the developmental changes and involution of the bursa of Fabricius in ducks.
Area of Science:
- Avian immunology
- Developmental biology
- Cellular and molecular biology
Background:
- The bursa of Fabricius is crucial for avian immune development.
- Understanding its cellular dynamics is key to avian health.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate developmental changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis in duck bursa of Fabricius.
- Correlate these changes with bursa development and involution.
Main Methods:
- Utilized flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry for cell analysis.
- Examined duck bursa of Fabricius at various embryonic and postnatal stages (E24, E27, P20, P70, P200).
- Assessed cell cycle phases, proliferation markers (PCNA), and apoptosis (TUNEL assay).
Main Results:
- Cell proliferation (G0/G1 phase, proliferating index) decreased significantly with age.
- Proliferative lymphocyte density declined from embryogenesis to adulthood.
- Apoptosis proportion and density showed a complex pattern, increasing early post-hatching, decreasing at P70, and rising again at P200.
Conclusions:
- Duck bursa of Fabricius exhibits decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis as the animal ages.
- These dynamic cellular processes are integral to the normal development and eventual involution of the bursa.
Abstract:
The aim of this work was to investigate developmental changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis in normal duck bursa of Fabricius using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Studies were carried out on Tianfu ducks on days 24 and 27 of embryogenesis (E24 and E27) along with days 20, 70, and 200 of postnatal development (P20, P70, and P200). Results showed that the percentage of G0/G1 bursa cells significantly increased between E24 and P200 while the percentage of cells in the S phase or G2 + M phase as well as the proliferating index obviously decreased during the same period. Proliferation cell nuclear antigen was detected in lymphocyte and interfollicular epithelium. The proliferative lymphocyte density tended to decrease from E24 to P200. Apoptotic bodies in macrophages, free apoptotic bodies, or nuclei with condensed chromatin in lymphocytes in follicles were identified by transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling. Both flow cytometry and microscopic analysis reveal that the proportion of apoptotic cells and apoptotic lymphocyte density increased from E24 to P20, fell on P70, then rose again on P200. Our foundings demonstrate that cell proliferation decreases and apoptosis increases with age. These changes may account for duck bursa development and involution.
