Histology and Histochemistry of Oviductal Sperm-Storage Glands in Canary Bird

The distribution,histology and histochemistry of sperm-storage glands of canary bird (Serinus canaria) were examined.The results showed that the sperm storage glands were restricted to a small area about 0.2 cm wide at the region of uterovaginal junction of the oviduct.The tubular glands were composed of a single layer of nonciliated columnar cells with basal nuclei arranging rather regularly.Histochemical studies showed that the gland cells exhibited positive PAS reactions and contained very small amount of glycogen and acid mucopolysaccharides.The lipid material was rather abundant in the gland cells.The gland cells showed strong AcP activity but no AlP activity.Differences in histology and histochmistry were found between the area of utero-vaginal junction and its adjacent regions,and there also existed the differences between the gland cells and the mucosal epithelium.