Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2013.859.864A. AhmedYasser A. SolimanSoha A. Abdel-HafezEnas 1220131617The current study aimed to describe the histological changes
of the femur and tibia of the post-hatching quail. Femur and tibia from 1-day-
to 6-weeks post-hatching quail were processed for light microscopy. Histological
examination revealed that endochondral ossification was a delayed process in
the development of femur and tibia preceded by periosteal ossification. Femur
and tibia of 1-day-post-hatching quail consisted of growth cartilage enclosed
in a tube of periosteal bone collar. The collar extended toward the epiphysis
dividing it into articular cartilage proper and lateral articular cartilage.
Down to the articular cartilage, there was a physeal growth cartilage, in which
the chondrocytes were organized into resting, proliferative and hypertrophic
zones. Focal areas of hypertrophic chondrocytes were observed in the epiphysis
of the tibia but not of the femur, which acted as a nidus for formation of the
secondary ossification centre after in 2-week-posthathcing quail. Primary ossification
centre was seen in both femur and tibia after 2 weeks and ossification continued
replacing the cartilage until the 6th week when only permanent articular cartilage
remained. Cartilage canals were present in both femur and tibia starting from
the day 1, but chondrified and completely disappeared after the 6th week. The
current study suggests that the periosteal ossification preceded the endochondral
ossification and plays an important role in quail long bones development.]]>Ahmed, Y.A., L. Tatarczuch, C.N. Pagel, H.M. Davies, M. Mirams and E.J. Mackie,200715575586Blumer, M.J.F., H. Fritsch, K. Pfaller and E. Brenner,2004207453462Blumer, M.J.F., S. Longato, E. Richter, M.T. Perez, K.Z. Konakci and H. Fritsch,2005206359372Blumer, M.J.F., C. Schwarzer, M.T. Perez, K.Z. Konakci and H. Fritsch,2006208695707Burkus, J.K., T.M. Ganey and J.A. Ogden,199366193202Chen, K.S., L. Tatarczuch, M. Mirams, Y.A. Ahmed, N.C. Pagel and E.J. Mackie,201042880889Cicek, K., M. Kumas and D. Ayas,2011Rana macrocnemis tadpoles.]]>5123126Mackie, E.J., L. Tatarczuch and M. Mirams,2011211109121Felisbino, S.L. and H.F. Carvalho,1999Rana catesbeiana.]]>31301307Haines, R.W.,1974117145158Jeffcott, L.B. and F.M. Henson,1998156177192Leach Jr., R.M. and C.V. Gay,1987117784790Mackie, E.J., Y.A. Ahmed, L. Tatarczuch, K.S. Chen and M. Mirams,2008404662Miralles-Flores, C.M. and E.D. Delgado-Baeza,1990139209213Pourlis, A.F., J. Antonopoulos and I.N. Magras,2006Coturnix coturnix Japonica).]]>111159170Rivas, R. and F. Shapiro,200284-A85100Roach, H.I. and N.M. Clarke,200082601613Simsa, S. and E.M. Ornan,2007Meleagris gallopavo) during embryonic and juvenile development.]]>86565571Ytrehus, B., C.S. Carlson and S. Ekman,200744429448