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&nbsp;cerebral cortex.

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

<div>Background: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an enzyme belonging to hydrolase group which splits the acetylcholine in to choline and acetate. It is supposed to be a marker of cholinergic and cholinoceptive neurons. Acetylcholinesterase histochemisry has been done in a number of vertebrates but it is still obscure and scattered in fishes, particularly in Indian fishes.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: In the present study a modified histochemical technique has been employed to histochemically map the acetylcholinesterase containing neurons in the telencephalic and diencephalic nuclei of C. punctatus described by Hedreen, et al (1985). 
 
Result: Acetylchoinesterase is differentially expressed in the various prosencephalic centres and nuclei of the brain, thus its staining clearly demarcates these centres and nuclei based on varying enzyme intensity. Among the pallial nuclei of the forebrain, medial and dorsolateral nuclei showed intense enzyme activity while ventral dorsolateral nucleus and central nucleus showed moderate reaction. In contrast, most of the subpallial nuclei of the forebrain showed high intensity. Diencephalic nuclei of the forebrain exhibited mosaic pattern of enzyme distribution.&nbsp;</div>

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

Histochemical Distribution of Acetylcholinesterase in the Forebrain Nuclei of an Indian Non Catfish Channa punctatus