Scanning electron microscopy of the third ventricular wall in the lamprey, Lampetra japonica

The third ventricular wall and its adjacent region of the arctic lamphrey, Lampetra japonica, were studied by scanning electron microscopy to elucidate their surface fine structures. The specimens were caught in the mouth of the river during their anadromous migration. The ventricular wall is covered entirely with the cilia of ependymal cells, with the exception of the ventral side of the lateral wall, the floor of the recessus infundibuli and a portion of the recessus posteriosus. In the ependymal layer covering the ventral side of the lateral wall, numerous protrusions of neurons are found equipped with microvilli and cilia. These neurons seem to correspond to the liquor-contacting neurons. Ependymal cells identified as tanycytes occur in the posterior portion of the floor of the recessus infundibuli. The apex of the tanycyte is provided with numerous microvilli and a bundle of cilia, while its basal projection extends towards the outer layer of neurohypophysis to make contact with the capillary wall. A small spherule considered to be a secretory substance is observed near the root of the ciliary bundle. tthe recessus posteriosus consists of a layer of ependymal cells and neurons with an apical projection into the ventricular cavity. Possible intraventricular macrophage (Kolmer cell) is found in the lamprey.