Light microscopy of the post-hatch endocrine pancreas of Japanese quail

The endocrine pancreas consisted of 3 types of islets, viz. alpha, beta and mixed cell types in both the sexes of all the age groups of the Japanese quail studied. The alpha islets were composed of alpha and delta cells, and were restricted to the third, splenic and the cranial part of the dorsal lobes. The cytoplasm of alpha cells contained coarse eosinophilic granules. The beta islets having delta cells at the periphery were seen in all the lobes of the pancreas. The beta cells were smaller than the alpha cells and had a basophilic cytoplasm. The delta cells were the smallest among the islet: cells with fine basophilic granules in their cytoplasm. Fourth type of cells, polygonal in shape with small cytoplasmic processes seen in between acinar cells and in the alpha islets of all the lobes of all the birds were used for the study. Their cytoplasm was intensely eosinophilic and fiery-red.