Scanning and transmission electron microscopic observations on the central canal of the regenerating tail spinal cord in the lizardAnolis carolinensis

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Abstract
This paper reports an electron microscopic study of medio‐proximal regions of the caudal regenerating spinal cord of the lizard Anolis carolinensis. After one to two months of tail regeneration, sparse sterociliar tufts of Cerebrospinal Fluid Contacting Neurons (CSFCNs) were seen in the central canal. The canal wall was coated with microvilli and cilia of variable length, indicating ciliogenesis in this period. The stereocilia of CSFCNs were often linked to roundish particles 0.5–2.0 μm in diameter, which were produced from ependymal cells and, possibly, from CSFCNs. Some sterocilia at the boundary of the tuft were to some degree smaller, suggesting that they were immature stereocilia. These observation confirm the differentiation of CSFCNs within the regenerating spinal cord and suggest that stereocilia are still forming after one‐two months of tail regeneration. The association of stereocilia with Reissner's fibre further suggests CSFCNs as being caudal mechanoreceptors.