Identification of the Different Types of Neurons in the Cerebral Cortex of Post Hatch Broiler Chicken

Background: Broiler chickens are most widely utilized among all poultry species across the world. As brain of birds is capable of sophisticated cognitive, social and motor behaviours, it is not surprising that they possess large and complex brains. The cognitive ability of a species might be due to its total number of brain neurons. Methods: A total of seventy (70) day-old broiler chicks were reared up to 42 days. The whole experimental period of study was divided into seven (07) at weekly interval. Brain tissues preservation and slide preparation were made as per standard protocol. The histological slides were stained with Cresyl violet and Haematoxylin and Eosin stains. Result: The microstructure of cerebral cortex in almost all age groups of broiler chicken showed two regions i.e. pallium and subpallium. The former one was identified as hyperpallium, dorsolateral corticoid area, mesopallium, nidopalliom, archipallium, piriform cortex and the hippocampal complex. In all age groups of broiler chicken the hyperpallium was differentiated into fibro molecular layer or reticular layer, hyperpallium accessorium (HA), intercalated hyperpallium accessorium (IHA), hyperpallium intercalates suprema (HISM) and hyperpallium densocellulare (HD). Based on the shape, different types of neurons were identified in different layers of the cerebral cortex.