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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
3D Modeling of the Lateral Ventricles and Histological Characterization of Periventricular Tissue in Humans and Mouse
Published on: May 19, 2015
Ependymal cells surface of human third brain ventricle by scanning electron microscopy
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 defined regions of the third ventricle from 9 human brains. These regions were strictly defined 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 specified 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).
