Morphological diversity of ependymal cells in tissue culture

Ependymal cells were visualized in primary cultures of cerebral cortex from rat using an immunohistochemical staining technique. Five different morphological subtypes of cuboidal ependyma were recognized: 1) round, 2) triangular, 3) columnar, 4) cone- and spindle-shaped, and 5) large pleomorphic cells. These cells varied in size and almost all possessed cilia. Two distinct forms of tanycyte ependyma were detected based on the presence of cilia. These features reflect a significant level of development of the ependymal cells in culture and may correspond to functional diversity within this group.