IMPACT OF CRYSTALLINE PROGESTERONE ON SPLEEN HISTOMORPHOMETRY AND SHELL GLAND HISTOLOGY IN LOHMANN BROWN LAYERS

The experiment determined the effect of Crystalline Progesterone (CP) on spleen histomorphometry and shell gland histology in Lohmann Brown layers. Completely randomized design was used with each treatment (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg per bird) administered intramuscularly via the breast muscle and replicated thrice for six weeks. The birds were managed on battery cage, fed commercial diet and water was given ad libitum Data were analyzed using GraphPad InStat® package. Results revealed there were significant difference (P<0.05) in proportion of spleen red pulp (0 mg vs. 15 mg = 80% vs. 50%; 5 mg vs. 15 mg = 80% vs. 50% and 5 mg vs. 15 mg= 80% vs. 50% ) and ellipsoids and peri-arteriolar lymphoid sheath (PALS) (0 mg vs. 15 mg = 10% vs. 50%; 5 mg vs. 15 mg = 10% vs. 50% and 10 mg vs. 15 mg = 15% vs. 50%). Whereas, (P>0.05) effect of CP proportion of spleen vascular skeleton and B follicles Histological investigation conferred similar magnitude (>10 fat cell aggregates) of shell gland fat infiltration between 10 and 15 mg CP treatment groups. It also showed non atrophic change at all doses. Beyond 15 mg CP, the magnitude of shell gland fat infiltration decreased to 6-10 fat cell aggregates and subsequently remained the same. Shell gland in the 5 mg CP group had no fat infiltration when compared to those in the control group which had 1-3 fat cell aggregates. It has been concluded that, CP affected proportion of spleen red pulp and ellipsoids and PALS., In the same vein affected, shell gland fat infiltration.