ULTRASTRUCTURE OF EPENDYMA IN THE CENTRAL CANAL OF RAT SPINAL CORD——TRANSMISSIVE AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATION
- VernacularTitle:大白鼠脊髓中央管室管膜的超微结构——透射电镜和扫描电镜观察
- Author:
Changgeng ZHU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Acta Anatomica Sinica
1954;0(02):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
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Abstract:
Observation on the ultrastructure of ependyma in the central canal of 12 rat spinal cords by means of transmission and scanning electron microscope showed that the ependyma is composed of ependymal cells, tanycytes and neurons. The ependymal cells are columnar or cubic in shape. Their apical surfaces are provided with microvilli and cilia which may contact with Reissner's fiber. Neighbouring cells are connected by zonula adherens or zonula occludens. The cytoplasm contains numerous mitochondria and vesicles. Elongated tanycytes situate between ependymal cells. They are provided with microvilli (but no cilia) at apical surfaces. The basal processes thrust into the grey matter, where they inclose capillaries. Abundant microfilaments and microtubes are embedded in the cytoplasm. This paper reports the cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons existing in the ependyma of rat spinal cord for the first time. These belong to supraependymal or hypoendymal neurons with small, multipolarcell bodies. Their dendrites and axons could be found in the lumen of central canal. Occasionally, the contact between axon terminal and dendrite was encountered. Morphological evidence mentioned above suggests that ependyma may perform receptive, absorptive and secretory function.
