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The uropygial gland of the Eared Dove and its evolutionary history within the Columbiformes (Aves)

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Abstract

The uropygial (preen) gland is a holocrine organ unique of Aves. Although several studies have been performed on the uropygial gland of different bird species, knowledge about this gland in Columbiformes is scarce. In order to fill this gap, we analysed in detail the external morphology and the histological and histochemical features of the uropygial gland of the Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) in a comparative context. The uropygial gland of the Eared Dove is characterized by its pear-like shape composed of two lobes, conical and naked papilla, tubule-alveolar adenomers, a large primary storage chamber (a feature also present in other terrestrial avian species), and reticular and elastic fibres in the capsule and connective tissue surrounding the adenomers. The histochemistry showed a positive reaction to periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian Blue 2.5 and several lectins, evidencing the presence of diverse glycoconjugates in this organ. Since the uropygial gland may be independently present or absent within Columbiformes, we also used character mapping on a molecular phylogeny to infer the character states of this gland at ancestral nodes to understand its evolutionary history. The analysis shows that the presence of the uropygial gland is the ancestral state for Columbiformes and that its loss occurred more than once independently.

Zusammenfassung

Die Bürzeldrüse der Ohrflecktaube ( Zenaida auriculata ) und ihre evolutionsbiologische Geschichte innerhalb der Taubenvögel

Die Bürzeldrüse ist eine nur bei Vögeln vorkommende holokrine Drüse. Obwohl es einige Untersuchungen dieser Drüse bei unterschiedlichen Vogelarten gibt, wissen wir nicht viel über sie bei Tauben. Um diese Lücke zu schließen, analysierten wir vergleichend und im Detail die äußerlichen morphologischen sowie die histologischen und histochemischen Eigenschaften der Bürzeldrüse von Ohrflecktauben (Zenaida auriculata). Ihre Bürzeldrüse ist durch ihre Birnenform charakterisiert und setzt sich zusammen aus zwei Lappen, einer konischen und nackten Papille, tubulealveolaren Adenomen, einer großen primären Speicherkapsel (die es auch bei anderen Landvögeln gibt), retikulären und elastischen Fasern in der Kapsel und Bindegewebe um die Adenomen herum. Die Histochemie zeigte positive Reaktionen auf PAS, Alcian-Blau 2,5 und mehrere Lektine, was auf das Vorhandensein von diversen Glykokonjugaten in diesem Organ hinweist. Da die Bürzeldrüse bei Tauben unabhängig voneinander vorhanden sein oder fehlen kann, betrachteten wir ihr Vorhandensein innerhalb des molekularen Stammbaums der Tauben, um die evolutionsbiologische Geschichte der Drüse zu verstehen. Die Analyse zeigt, dass das Vorhandensein der Bürzeldrüse bei Tauben entwicklungsgeschichtlich der Normalfall war und sie mehr als einmal unabhängig voneinander verlorenging.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the improvements made to the English language of this article by Peter Lowther through the Association of Field Ornithologists’ programme of editorial assistance. We are grateful to CONICET for permanent support. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Histología y Embriología Descriptiva, Experimental y Comparada, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 60 y 118, 1904, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    María Cecilia Chiale, Julieta Carril & Claudio Barbeito

  2. Sección Ornitología, División Zoología Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Diego Montalti

  3. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Calle 8 No. 1467, 1904, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    María Cecilia Chiale, Julieta Carril, Diego Montalti & Claudio Barbeito

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  1. María Cecilia Chiale
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  2. Julieta Carril
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  3. Diego Montalti
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Correspondence to María Cecilia Chiale.

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Communicated by L. Fusani.

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Chiale, M.C., Carril, J., Montalti, D. et al. The uropygial gland of the Eared Dove and its evolutionary history within the Columbiformes (Aves). J Ornithol 160, 1171–1181 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-019-01691-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-019-01691-6

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