A morphometric and stereological study: Morphometric measurements and
calculation of volume values of cervical spinal segments in turkeys and
guinea fowls.
Abstract
In this study, it was aimed to reveal the volume values of cervical
segments in poultry. The total volume, substantia grisea and substantia
alba volume values of each cervical segment of each animal were
calculated using the Cavalieri’s Principle. Ten healthy adult female
turkeys aged 8 months, and 10 healthy adult female guinea fowls, aged 8
months, were used. The animals were anesthetized and then perfused.
Spinal cords were dissected. Length, weight and diameter measurements of
each cervical segment were measured to obtain morphometric values. Each
cervical segment was blocked with paraffin. Ten sections of 5 µm
thickness were taken by a microtome, paralel and serial, with a step of
1/75 for each segment. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and
eosin. The sections were photographed under a microscope with an
objective x4. Shtereom I package program was used for volume
calculations. This study revealed the presence of 13 cervical vertebrae
and 14 cervical spinal segments in both turkey and guinea fowl. with
this study, it was determined that the intumescentia cervicalis region
in the turkey was between the eighth and the fourteenth cervical
segments, and in the guinea fowl, between the nineteeth and the
fourteenth cervical segments. With this study, the white matter, grey
matter and total volume values of cervical spinal segments of turkey and
guinea fowl were presented to the literature. Morphometric values of
cervical segments were also calculated.