Effect of cilia-induced surface velocity on cerebrospinal fluid exchange in the lateral ventricles

Abstract

Ciliary motility disorders are known to cause hydrocephalus. The instantaneous velocity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow is dominated by artery pulsation, and it remains unclear why ciliary dysfunction results in hydrocephalus. In this study, we investigated the effects of cilia-induced surface velocity on CSF flow using computational fluid dynamics. A geometric model of the human ventricles was constructed using medical imaging data. The CSF produced by the choroid plexus and cilia-induced surface velocity were given as the velocity boundary conditions at the ventricular walls. We developed healthy and reduced cilia motility models based on experimental data of cilia-induced velocity in healthy wild-type and Dpcd-knockout mice. The results indicate that there is almost no difference in intraventricular pressure between healthy and reduced cilia motility models. Additionally, it was found that newly produced CSF from the choroid plexus did not spread to the anterior and inferior horns of the lateral ventricles in the reduced cilia motility model. These findings suggest that a ciliary motility disorder could delay CSF exchange in the anterior and inferior horns of the lateral ventricles.

Pathogenic role of autoantibodies at the ependyma in autoimmune disorders of the central nervous system

“…For example, if ependymal cilia fail to propel CSF correctly, this would lead to these outcomes. It is also possible that a lack of proper solute exchange at the ventricular border could also lead to ventricular enlargement as a result of CSF accumulating, as proposed by a recent mathematical model of human CSF dynamics ( Yoshida et al, 2022 ). In any case, if CSF components accumulate adjacent to the ependyma, especially in MS where waste products and cytotoxic factors exist, this could contribute to periventricular damage.…”