The Use of the Optical Fractionator to Estimate the Total Number of Ependymal Cells of the Spinal Cord in Leghorn

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the number of ependymal cells in the spinal cord of Leghorn chicks using optical fractionator technique. Forty weeks old six female and six male Leghorn were used. Animals were anesthetized by administration of xylazineketamine combination and euthanasia was carried out. Saline solution was administered to the animals for draining blood completely from the body. Ten percent formalin saline solution was used as a fixative. Decalcification was performed on dissected vertebral columns using Trichloroacetic acid. Spinal cords were removed from vertebral columns and measured. All cords were cut 1 cm in length, 10 and 11 systematic random sampled tissue samples with a sampling ratio of 1/3 were taken from females and males respectively. One transversal section was taken from each of tissue samples at the thickness of 10 mu m. Optical fractionator was performed on sections to estimate the total number of ependymal cells in the cord. It was found that male Leghorns had more ependymal cells than female Leghorns. The maximum number of ependymal cells was found in the caudal part whereas the minimum number of cells was observed in cervical part of the spinal cord in female. Male animals showed a homogeneous distribution of the ependymal cells. It was thought that sex difference must be considered in studies on spinal cord of Leghorn.