MORPHOLOGICAL-STUDY OF THE MOUSE SUBEPENDYMAL LAYER FROM EMBRYONIC LIFE TO OLD-AGE

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 130  (MAR) , 391-415
Abstract
The natural history of the subependymal layer around the lateral ventricle of the mouse brain was studied from its appearance at E[embryonic day]11 up to 22 mo. postnatum. In the young embryo 4 regions of the ventricle can be recognized by their histological characteristics: ventricular roof, medial roof, ventricular elevations and medial wall. The characteristics of the ventricular roof and ventricular elevations were examined in detail. The ventricular roof appears to be the main site of production of cortical neurons; the subependymal layer of the ventricular elevations seem to be the main site of origin of forebrain glia. The age of differentiation of the ependyma differs for each region, with the medial roof differentiating first, followed by the ventricular roof and medial wall, and ventricular elevations or lateral wall last. Differentiation begins with a change from pseudostratified columnar epithelium to simple columnar epithelium and the appearance of many cilia. The embryonic subependymal layer contains ependymoglial cells, neuroblasts and glioblasts. The proportion of each type differs from region to region. Postnatally dark and light glioblasts, microglia and dark and light astrocytes are present until after the end of the 1st mo. postnatal. In the adult, glioblasts and astrocytes predominate but microglia and neurons are also present. Mitotic glioblasts are present throughout life.