Development of the cerebrospinal fluid pathway in the normal and abnormal human embryos

The subarachnoid space, the chorioid plexus and the arachnoid villi are microscopically studied in 60 normal human embryos and in 3 abnormal human embryos with rhombencephaloschisis and cervical myeloschisis. The subarachnoid space has been generally considered to be developed by outflow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the choroid-plexus origin from the IVth ventricle. This generally accepted concept does not meet with our findings: (1) cavity formation in the meninx primitiva is seen before appearance of the choroid plexus; (2) the primitive subarachnoid space is developed earlier in the prepontine region than in the area dorsal to the rhombic roof, and (3) the primitive subarachnoid space is formed in the embryos with dysraphism where the perineural subarachnoid space is separated from the ventricles. Apparently the embryonic pattern of CSF circulation should be much different from the generally believed pattern of adult, since the arachnoid villi are absent in the embryos and the ability of production of CSF in the embryonic choroid plexus is questionable. It is suggested that such embryonic pattern of CSF production and absorption may partly persist in adult human being.