Histochemical and lectin-histochemical studies of the secretion from the uropygial gland of the rock dove Columbia livia (Columbidae-Columbiformes)

The uropygial gland of Columba livia was studied using standard histochemical and lectin-histochemical methods. Acidic mucins, neutral lipids, glycolipids and phospholipids were normal secretion. There were no differences between males and females. The uropygial secretion was a mixture of lipid and carbohydrate compounds, the composition of which varied according to the stage of cellular differentiation and secretion formation.