OBJECTIVES: The ependymal lining of the human brain ventricular system displays distinct structural differences and functional heterogeneity among individual ependymal cells (ECs). To date, multi-ciliated ECs (E1 cells), bi-ciliated ECs (E2 cells), uni-ciliated ECs (E3 cells), ECs without cilia, and ECs with cytoplasmic protrusions have been described in human brain ventricles. METHOD: Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we evaluated ependymal samples from 6 defi ned regions of the third ventricle from 9 human brains. These regions were strictly defi ned according to the periventricular structures they neighbour with. RESULTS: We observed different structures on the apical surface of the ECs. Various ECs differed from each other by the presence of microvilli, secretory bodies, and a variable number of cilia, which led us to divide the ECs into several exactly specifi ed types according to their apical morphology. CONCLUSION: We found all types of ECs in every examined region with a predominance of particular types of apical surface of ECs in the individual areas (Tab. 4, Fig. 7, Ref. 22).
Different types of ependymal areas were studied and labelled in the human brain lateral ventricle. Periventricular structures were included in coining the names of the ependymal areas because they represent a basic and stable part of brain nerve structures suitable for the sake of clarity of localization of the ependyma. The labelling of individual ependymal areas was composed from letters: "Lv" (lateral ventricle); "E" (ependymal area) and letters for abbreviations of the closest periventricular structure, e.g. the septum pellucidum is "sp". The labelling for ependymal area over the septum pellucidum is thus "LvE-sp". The studied types of ependymal areas were arranged in so‑called ependymal tables for cornu anterius, pars centralis, cornu inferius and cornu posterius of the human lateral ventricle. Labelling of individual ependymal areas allows for better localization and characterisation of these areas in future studies carried out by various methods (e.g. morphological, biological, molecular) and will prevent from using misnomers with different types of ependymal areas in norm as well as in pathology (Tab. 5, Fig. 6, Ref. 22). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.
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