Histochemical detection of glycoproteins in the gastric epithelia of Columba livia

A histochemical investigation was carried out to detect glycoproteins in the lining and glandular epithelia of 4 regions of the stomach of Columba livia: proventriculus, intermediate region between proventriculus and gizzard, gizzard, intermediate region between gizzard and duodenum. It was noticed the presence of neutral and sulphoglycoproteins, with a clear predominance of the latter in the lining epithelia and in the simple tubular glands of the mucosa of these regions, except for the gizzard. Absence of glycoproteins was noticed in the oxynticopeptic cells of the branched tubular glands of the proventriculus. Neutral glycoproteins and traces of sulphoglycoproteins were present in the lining epithelia of the folds of its central cavity and of its exit duct. Lining the above mentioned structures, the correspondent of the gizzard, inclusively there was a pellicle of sialoglycoproteins.