A Morphometric and Stereological Study on Cervical Spinal Cord Segment of Goose

Abstract

In this study, volume density of white matter and grey matter areas of cervical segment of spinal cord in adult geese weighing 3-4kg was examined using stereological methods. 10 geese were used as material without sex discrimination. All animals underwent perfusion with 10% buffered formaldehyde. Following the perfusion, animals were kept in 10% formaldehyde for 1week. Geese were then dissected. Cervical area of spinal cord was revealed removing cervical spine. Tissue samples were obtained from each segment of cervical area. 5m thick cross-sections were taken from these tissue samples via microtome. Series of cross-sections were obtained by sampling in the ratio of 1/250 including 12 cross-sections from each cervical segment of every animal. Cross-sections were stained by haematoxylin eosin. They were photographed under microscope. Volume density (volume fractions) of both whole tissue and white matter and grey matter parts in each cervical segment of spinal cord were calculated using Cavalieri's Principle. In the study, total volume of cervical segment, volume of white matter and grey matter, and ratios of these volumes one another were assessed in goose.