# Calculation of the Lumbosacral Segment Volume of the Spinal Cord in Ducks (Anas) Using the Stereological Method

## TL;DR

This study used a stereological method to calculate the volume of the lumbosacral spinal cord segments in ducks, revealing variations in white and grey matter across segments.

## Contribution

The study provides new volume data for the lumbosacral spinal cord in ducks using a precise stereological approach.

## Key findings

- The volume of the lumbosacral spinal cord increased between the LS3 and LS8 segments.
- Statistical differences were found in white matter and grey matter volume values across segments.
- The intumescentia lumbosacralis enlargement may occur between LS3 and LS8 segments in ducks.

## Abstract

In this study, white and grey matter volume densities of the lumbosacral part of spinal cord in ducks (Anatinae) were investigated by a stereological method. Ten healthy ducks weighing 3–4 kg, regardless of gender, were used as material. Anesthetized animals were perfused with 10% buffered formaldehyde. The lumbosacral parts of the ducks were exposed by dissecting the spinal cords. The lumbosacral section was segmented. Tissue samples from each segment were determined. A total of 12 sections were taken from these tissue samples, each 250th section with a thickness of 5 µm on the microtome. These sections were stained with haematoxylin‐eosin. Photos were taken with an X10 objective. By using Cavalieri's Principle, volume density calculations of both the whole tissue and the white and grey matter were performed separately in each segment of the lumbosacral part of the spinal cord in ducks. Shtereom I program was used for calculations. As a result, the white matter and grey matter volume values of all tissue in the duck lumbosacral segments and their volume fractions with each other were determined and evaluated in the light of the literatures. In this study, when all the volume values of the lumbosacral spinal segment in duck were revealed, it was determined that the volume value increased in the range of LS3 and LS8 segments. The increase in the whole volume value in these segment ranges in ducks gave rise to the idea that the enlargement called intumescentia lumbosacralis may be between these segments.

In the statistical evaluation made in terms of whole segment volume values, it was determined that there was a difference between the segments. It is seen that there is a statistical difference in terms of white matter and grey matter volume values. Differences were also detected in GM/LSS and GM/WM values. It was stated that the difference between segments was insignificant in WM/LSS value.

In the statistical evaluation of between animal lumbosacral volume values, the difference was insignificant in terms of whole segment and grey matter volume values, while the difference was significant in terms of white matter, GM/WM, WM/LSS and GM/LSS values.