Present study was carried on six pancreas samples from apparently healthy local poultry of Poonch region. Pancreas was lobulated gland located between the descending and ascending parts of the duodenum. Histologically, the pancreas was covered by thick connective tissue capsule comprising mainly collagen fibers which sends fine septae dividing the gland into indistinct lobes. Parenchyma of pancreas consisted of both exocrine and endocrine portion. Exocrine part consisted of numerous secretory acini varying from spherical, oval to elongated. Acini consisted of single layer of pyramidal cells with round, large, basally situated nucleus. Cytoplasm contained acidophilic zymogen granules located mainly towards the apical portion of the cell. Centro-acinar cells were not observed in the present study. Average longer diameter was 44.02±7.71 µ whereas the smaller diameter was 33.92±7.80 µ. Average height of acinar cell was 12.54±0.69 µ with nuclear size of 5.90±0.33 µ. Endocrine part constituted only a small portion of parenchyma and appeared as lightly stained pale areas in between the acini. Occurrence of islets varied and were unevenly distributed. The shape of the Islets of Langerhans varied from spherical, oval to elongated. Most of the islets were lightly stained and cells had rounded basally located nucleus with prominent nucleolus. Few of the islets were mixed type in this local poultry of Poonch region having both light and few dark cells. Mean number of islets per field at 40x was 4.17±0.70. Average longer diameter was 184.62±19.77 µ whereas the smaller diameter was 114.82±10.14 µ.

Highlights

• Pancreas was covered by thick connective tissue capsule comprising mainly collagen fibers.
• Shape of secretory acini varying from spherical, oval to elongated.
• Centro-acinar cells were not observed.