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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
06:58
Live Imaging of the Ependymal Cilia in the Lateral Ventricles of the Mouse Brain
Published on: June 1, 2015
Ependymal cells: biology and pathology
1Department of Pathology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. delbigi@cc.umanitoba.ca
Acta Neuropathologica
|December 22, 2009
Summary
Ciliated ependymal cells are crucial for brain development and progenitor cell support. While important in young brains, their role in adult mammals appears regionally restricted, with defects potentially leading to hydrocephalus.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Ciliated ependymal cells line brain ventricles.
- Their role in neurogenesis and brain development is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize current knowledge on ciliated ependymal cells in mammalian brains.
- To highlight recent findings on their interactions with the subventricular zone and progenitor cells.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of publications, focusing on the past 10 years.
- Synthesis of existing data on ependymal cell function, proteins, and disease associations.
Main Results:
- Ependymal cells support progenitor cells metabolically and trophically.
- Defects in adhesion and cilia function are linked to hydrocephalus.
- These cells are susceptible to viral infections and crucial for brain development, but may have limited adult function.
Conclusions:
- Ciliated ependymal cells play a vital role in brain development and progenitor cell maintenance.
- Their function in adult brains of large mammals, like humans, is likely restricted to specific regions.
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