Correlative scanning and transmission electron microscopic study on the ependymal surface of Bradypus Tridactylus

Carvalho, Claudio A. Ferraz de; Chagas, Cláudio Fava; Silva, Ciro Ferreira da; Reis, Francisco Prado

doi:10.1590/S0004-282X1983000100005

Abstracts

Topographical variations of the ependymal surface of the whole brain ventricular system of Bradypus tridactylus were studied at the scanning electron microscope after CO2 critical point drying and carbon-gold coating. Certain selected areas were also studied at the transmission electron microscope, following standard technical procedures. We observed distinct patterns in the distribution of cilia, microvilli and supraependymal structures (nerve-like and fibrous astrocyte fibers), and also a small number of blebs. It the lateral transition zone between the floor and roof of the lateral ventricle were found interconrected stellate bulgings measuring an average 98 x 190 mm, constituted by a complex meshwork of processes from fibrous astrocytes, without ependymal lining and with few cell bodies. In the junction between these formations and the underlying neuropil, ciliated ependymal-cell-like glial cells were found to delimit complex labyrinthic spaces. Based on the morphological findings, morpho-functional considerations are made.

Diferenças topográficas da superfície ependimal dos ventrículos encefálicos de Bradypus tridactylus foram estudadas à microscopia eletrônica de varredura (com processamento por ponto crítico de CO2 e recobrimento com carbono e ouro). Certas regiões selecionadas foram também analisadas à microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, segundo métodos convencionais. Foram observados distintos padrões de distribuição de cílios, microvilos e estruturas supra-ependimais, por toda a superfície ventricular, e também saliências vesiculares em pequeno número. Lateralmente, entre o teto e o soalho do ventrículo lateral, são descritas elevações estreladas interconectadas, medindo em média 98 x 190 mm, desprovidas de revestimento ependimal e constituídas por um complexo emaranhado de processos de astrocitos fibrosos e poucos corpos celulares. Na junção entre essas formações e o tecido nervoso subjacente foram encontradas células gliais semelhantes às células ependimais, dotadas inclusive de cílios, delimitando complexos espaços labirínticos. São feitas considerações morfo-funcionais concernentes aos achados morfológicos.

Correlative scanning and transmission electron microscopic study on the ependymal surface of Bradypus Tridactylus

Estudo correlativo à microscopia eletrônica de varredura e de transmissão da superfície ependimal de Bradypus tridactylus

Claudio A. Ferraz de Carvalho^I; Cláudio Fava Chagas^I; Ciro Ferreira da Silva^I; Francisco Prado Reis^II

^IDept. of Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences Institute, São Paulo University, Brazil

^IIDept. of Morphology, Sergipe Federal University, Brazil

SUMMARY

Topographical variations of the ependymal surface of the whole brain ventricular system of Bradypus tridactylus were studied at the scanning electron microscope after CO₂ critical point drying and carbon-gold coating. Certain selected areas were also studied at the transmission electron microscope, following standard technical procedures. We observed distinct patterns in the distribution of cilia, microvilli and supraependymal structures (nerve-like and fibrous astrocyte fibers), and also a small number of blebs. It the lateral transition zone between the floor and roof of the lateral ventricle were found interconrected stellate bulgings measuring an average 98 x 190 mm, constituted by a complex meshwork of processes from fibrous astrocytes, without ependymal lining and with few cell bodies. In the junction between these formations and the underlying neuropil, ciliated ependymal-cell-like glial cells were found to delimit complex labyrinthic spaces. Based on the morphological findings, morpho-functional considerations are made.

RESUMO

Diferenças topográficas da superfície ependimal dos ventrículos encefálicos de Bradypus tridactylus foram estudadas à microscopia eletrônica de varredura (com processamento por ponto crítico de CO₂ e recobrimento com carbono e ouro). Certas regiões selecionadas foram também analisadas à microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, segundo métodos convencionais. Foram observados distintos padrões de distribuição de cílios, microvilos e estruturas supra-ependimais, por toda a superfície ventricular, e também saliências vesiculares em pequeno número. Lateralmente, entre o teto e o soalho do ventrículo lateral, são descritas elevações estreladas interconectadas, medindo em média 98 x 190 mm, desprovidas de revestimento ependimal e constituídas por um complexo emaranhado de processos de astrocitos fibrosos e poucos corpos celulares. Na junção entre essas formações e o tecido nervoso subjacente foram encontradas células gliais semelhantes às células ependimais, dotadas inclusive de cílios, delimitando complexos espaços labirínticos. São feitas considerações morfo-funcionais concernentes aos achados morfológicos.

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Acknowledgements - The authors wish to express their gratitude to the following: Prof. José Maria Soares Barata, Mr. Carlos Alberto Leite and Mr. Carlos Pereira Baltar, from the Department of Epidemiology, University of São Paulo Public Health School; and Prof. Antonio Sesso, from the Department of Pathology, São Paulo Medical School.

Departamento de Anatomia, Bloco 30 - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas - Universidade de São Paulo - Caixa Postal 4365 - 01000 São Paulo - Brasil.

1. AGDUHR, E. - Ueber ein zentrales Sinneorgan (?) bei den Vertebraten. Z.Anat. Entwicks-Gesch. 66:223, 1922.
2. ALLEN, D. J.; PERSKY, B. & LOW, F. N. - Some regional variations in ventricular lining material in laboratory animals and man. Scanning electron Microsc. 2:45, 1978.
3. BARGMANN, W. & SCHARRER, E. - The site of origin of the hormones of the posterior pituitary. Amer. Scientist 39:245, 1951.
4. BRIGHTMANN, M. W. - The intracerebral movement of proteins injected into blood and cerebrospinal fluid of mice. Prog.Brain Res. 29:19, 1968.
5. BRUNI, J. E.; MONTEMURO, D. G.; GLATTENBURG, R. E. & SINGH, R. P. - The scanning electron microscopic study of the ependymal surface of the third ventricle of the rabbit, rat, mouse and human brain. Anat. Rec. 174:407, 1972.
6. CLEMENTI, F. & MARINI, D. - The surface fine structure of the walls of cerebral ventricles and choroid plexus in cat. Z.Zellforsch. 123:82, 1972.
7. DIERICKX, K. - The dentrites of the preoptic neurosecretory nucleus of Rana temporaria and the osmoreceptors. Arch.int.Pharmacodyn. 140:708, 1962.
8. FERRAZ DE CARVALHO, C. A. & COSTACURTA, L. - Ultrastructural study on topographical variations of the ependyma in Bradypus tridactylus. Acta. anat. (Basel) 94:369, (1976(A).
9. FERRAZ DE CARVALHO, C. A.; KÕNIG JR., B. & RODRIGUES JR., A. J. - Ultrastructural study on the relations among nerve elements and ependymal cells of the Bradypus tridactylus. Rev. bras.Pesq.médbiol.. 9:137, 1976(B).
10. FERRAZ DE CARVALHO, C. A.; KÕNIG JR., B. & SOUZA, R. R. de - Ultrastructural study of the subependymal tissue in the Bradypus tridactylus. Rev.bras. Pesq.méd.biol. 10:109, 1977.
11. FERRAZ DE CARVALHO, C. A.; COSTACURTA, L. & CARVALHO FILHO, J. R. - Histological and histochemical study on the ependyma of Bradypus tridactylus. Acta. anat. (Basel) 92:424, 1975.
12. FLEISCHHAUER, K. - Regional differences in the structure of the ependymal layers of the cerebral ventricles of the cat. In KETY, S. S. & ELKES, J. E. - The Regional Chemistry Physiology and Pharmacology of the Nervous System. Bethesda, National Inst, of Mental Health, 1961. p. 279-283.
13. HETZEL, W. - A scanning electron microscopic study of the cornu anterius and inferius of the lateral ventricle of the monkey's brain. Sccanning electron Microsc. 2:587, 1977.
14. HETZEL, W. - Ependymal structure of the anterior and inferior horn of the lateral ventricle of the rabbit brain. Scanning electr.Microsc. 2:129, 1978.
15. HETZEL, W. - The posterior horn and collateral trigone of the lateral ventricle of the monkey brain (Macaca speziosa): a scanning electron microscopic study. Cell Tiss.Res. 186:161, 1978.
16. ITO, H. - The receptor in the reptilian brain. J.Hirnforsch. 7:943, 1965.
17. KOZLOWSKY, G. P.; SCOTT, D. E. & DUDLEY, G. K. - Scanning electron microscopy of the third ventricle of sheep. Z.Zellforsch. 136:169, 1973.
18. LEONHARDT, H. - Intraventrikulãre markhaltige Nervenfasern nahe der Apertura lateralis ventriculi quarti des Kanninchengehirns. Z.Zellforsch. 84:1, 1968.
19. MARQUET, E.; SOBEL, H. J.; SCHWARZ, E. & WEISS, M. - Secretion by ependymal cells of the neurohypophysis and saccus vasculosus of Polyypterus ornatipinnis (Osteichthyes). J.Morph. 137:111, 1972.
20. MATSUI, T. & KOBAYASHI, H. - Surface protrusions from the ependymal cells of the median eminence. Arch.Anat. (Strasbourg) 51:430, 1968.
21. MITCHELL, J. A. - Scanning electron microscopy of brain ventricular surfaces: a bibliography. Scanning electr.Microsc. 3:475, 1980.
22. NAKAI, Y. - Fine structure and its functional properties of the ependymal cell in the frog median eminence. Z.Zellforsch. 122:15, 1971.
23. NOACK, W.; DUMITRESCU, L. & SCHWEICHEL, J. - Scanning and electron microscopical investigation of the surface structures of the lateral ventricles in the cat. Brain Res. 46:121, 1972.
24. PENSA, A. - Delia esistenza di fibre nervose aventi speciali rapporti col ependyma. Boll. Soc. med. chir. (Pavia), 1903. Apud AGDTJHR, E. 1922.
25. PESONEN, N. - Ueber die intraependymalen Nervenelemente. Anat.Anz. 90:193, 1940.
26. PONTENAGEL, M. - Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen am Ependym der Plexus chorioidei bei Rana esculenta und Rana fusca (Roesel). Z.mik.-anat.Forsch. 68:371, 1962.
27. RENAUT - Recherches sur les centres amyeliniques: la neuroglie et l'ependyme. Arch.Physiol.norm.pathol 2:9, 1882. Apud PESONEN, N., 1940.
28. RIBAS, J. L. - The rat epithalanr s: correlative scanning-transmission electron microscopy of supraependymal nerves. Cell.Tiss.Res. 182:1, 1977.
29. RICHARDS, J. G.; LOREZ, H. P.; COLOMBO, V. E.; GUGGENHEIM, R. & KISS, D. - Supraependymal nerve fibers in human brain: correlative transmission and scanning electron microscopical and fluorescence histochemical studies. Neuroscience 5:1489, 1980.
30. RODRIGUES, E. M. - Neurosecretory system of the toad Bufo arenarum Hensel and its changes during inanition. Gen.comp.Endocr. 4:684, 1964.
31. SCHECHTER, J. & WEINER, R. - Ultrastructural changes in the ependymal lining of the median eminence following the intraventricular administration of catecholamine. Anat.Rec. 172:643, 1972.
32. TAXEICHI, M. - The fine structure of ependymal cells. II An electron microscopic study of the soft-shelled turtle paraventricular organ, with special reference to the tirst structure of ependymal cells and socalled albuminous substance. Z.Zellforsch. 76:471, 1967.
33. VONWILLER, P. & WIGODSKAYA, R. R. - Mikroskopische Beobachtung der Bewegung des Liquors im lebenden Gehirn. Z.Anat.Entwickl.Gesch. 102:290, 1934.
34. WEINDL, A. & SCHINKO, I. - The ventricular system of the opossum brain. Scanning electr.Microsc. 2:861, 1978.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
14 Aug 2012
Date of issue
Mar 1983

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. AGDUHR, E. - Ueber ein zentrales Sinneorgan (?) bei den Vertebraten. Z.Anat. Entwicks-Gesch. 66:223, 1922.

[2] 2. ALLEN, D. J.; PERSKY, B. & LOW, F. N. - Some regional variations in ventricular lining material in laboratory animals and man. Scanning electron Microsc. 2:45, 1978.

[3] 3. BARGMANN, W. & SCHARRER, E. - The site of origin of the hormones of the posterior pituitary. Amer. Scientist 39:245, 1951.

[4] 4. BRIGHTMANN, M. W. - The intracerebral movement of proteins injected into blood and cerebrospinal fluid of mice. Prog.Brain Res. 29:19, 1968.

[5] 5. BRUNI, J. E.; MONTEMURO, D. G.; GLATTENBURG, R. E. & SINGH, R. P. - The scanning electron microscopic study of the ependymal surface of the third ventricle of the rabbit, rat, mouse and human brain. Anat. Rec. 174:407, 1972.

[6] 6. CLEMENTI, F. & MARINI, D. - The surface fine structure of the walls of cerebral ventricles and choroid plexus in cat. Z.Zellforsch. 123:82, 1972.

[7] 7. DIERICKX, K. - The dentrites of the preoptic neurosecretory nucleus of Rana temporaria and the osmoreceptors. Arch.int.Pharmacodyn. 140:708, 1962.

[8] 8. FERRAZ DE CARVALHO, C. A. & COSTACURTA, L. - Ultrastructural study on topographical variations of the ependyma in Bradypus tridactylus. Acta. anat. (Basel) 94:369, (1976(A).

[9] 9. FERRAZ DE CARVALHO, C. A.; KÕNIG JR., B. & RODRIGUES JR., A. J. - Ultrastructural study on the relations among nerve elements and ependymal cells of the Bradypus tridactylus. Rev. bras.Pesq.médbiol.. 9:137, 1976(B).

[10] 10. FERRAZ DE CARVALHO, C. A.; KÕNIG JR., B. & SOUZA, R. R. de - Ultrastructural study of the subependymal tissue in the Bradypus tridactylus. Rev.bras. Pesq.méd.biol. 10:109, 1977.

[11] 11. FERRAZ DE CARVALHO, C. A.; COSTACURTA, L. & CARVALHO FILHO, J. R. - Histological and histochemical study on the ependyma of Bradypus tridactylus. Acta. anat. (Basel) 92:424, 1975.

[12] 12. FLEISCHHAUER, K. - Regional differences in the structure of the ependymal layers of the cerebral ventricles of the cat. In KETY, S. S. & ELKES, J. E. - The Regional Chemistry Physiology and Pharmacology of the Nervous System. Bethesda, National Inst, of Mental Health, 1961. p. 279-283.

[13] 13. HETZEL, W. - A scanning electron microscopic study of the cornu anterius and inferius of the lateral ventricle of the monkey's brain. Sccanning electron Microsc. 2:587, 1977.

[14] 14. HETZEL, W. - Ependymal structure of the anterior and inferior horn of the lateral ventricle of the rabbit brain. Scanning electr.Microsc. 2:129, 1978.

[15] 15. HETZEL, W. - The posterior horn and collateral trigone of the lateral ventricle of the monkey brain (Macaca speziosa): a scanning electron microscopic study. Cell Tiss.Res. 186:161, 1978.

[16] 16. ITO, H. - The receptor in the reptilian brain. J.Hirnforsch. 7:943, 1965.

[17] 17. KOZLOWSKY, G. P.; SCOTT, D. E. & DUDLEY, G. K. - Scanning electron microscopy of the third ventricle of sheep. Z.Zellforsch. 136:169, 1973.

[18] 18. LEONHARDT, H. - Intraventrikulãre markhaltige Nervenfasern nahe der Apertura lateralis ventriculi quarti des Kanninchengehirns. Z.Zellforsch. 84:1, 1968.

[19] 19. MARQUET, E.; SOBEL, H. J.; SCHWARZ, E. & WEISS, M. - Secretion by ependymal cells of the neurohypophysis and saccus vasculosus of Polyypterus ornatipinnis (Osteichthyes). J.Morph. 137:111, 1972.

[20] 20. MATSUI, T. & KOBAYASHI, H. - Surface protrusions from the ependymal cells of the median eminence. Arch.Anat. (Strasbourg) 51:430, 1968.

[21] 21. MITCHELL, J. A. - Scanning electron microscopy of brain ventricular surfaces: a bibliography. Scanning electr.Microsc. 3:475, 1980.

[22] 22. NAKAI, Y. - Fine structure and its functional properties of the ependymal cell in the frog median eminence. Z.Zellforsch. 122:15, 1971.

[23] 23. NOACK, W.; DUMITRESCU, L. & SCHWEICHEL, J. - Scanning and electron microscopical investigation of the surface structures of the lateral ventricles in the cat. Brain Res. 46:121, 1972.

[24] 24. PENSA, A. - Delia esistenza di fibre nervose aventi speciali rapporti col ependyma. Boll. Soc. med. chir. (Pavia), 1903. Apud AGDTJHR, E. 1922.

[25] 25. PESONEN, N. - Ueber die intraependymalen Nervenelemente. Anat.Anz. 90:193, 1940.

[26] 26. PONTENAGEL, M. - Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen am Ependym der Plexus chorioidei bei Rana esculenta und Rana fusca (Roesel). Z.mik.-anat.Forsch. 68:371, 1962.

[27] 27. RENAUT - Recherches sur les centres amyeliniques: la neuroglie et l'ependyme. Arch.Physiol.norm.pathol 2:9, 1882. Apud PESONEN, N., 1940.

[28] 28. RIBAS, J. L. - The rat epithalanr s: correlative scanning-transmission electron microscopy of supraependymal nerves. Cell.Tiss.Res. 182:1, 1977.

[29] 29. RICHARDS, J. G.; LOREZ, H. P.; COLOMBO, V. E.; GUGGENHEIM, R. & KISS, D. - Supraependymal nerve fibers in human brain: correlative transmission and scanning electron microscopical and fluorescence histochemical studies. Neuroscience 5:1489, 1980.

[30] 30. RODRIGUES, E. M. - Neurosecretory system of the toad Bufo arenarum Hensel and its changes during inanition. Gen.comp.Endocr. 4:684, 1964.

[31] 31. SCHECHTER, J. & WEINER, R. - Ultrastructural changes in the ependymal lining of the median eminence following the intraventricular administration of catecholamine. Anat.Rec. 172:643, 1972.

[32] 32. TAXEICHI, M. - The fine structure of ependymal cells. II An electron microscopic study of the soft-shelled turtle paraventricular organ, with special reference to the tirst structure of ependymal cells and socalled albuminous substance. Z.Zellforsch. 76:471, 1967.

[33] 33. VONWILLER, P. & WIGODSKAYA, R. R. - Mikroskopische Beobachtung der Bewegung des Liquors im lebenden Gehirn. Z.Anat.Entwickl.Gesch. 102:290, 1934.

[34] 34. WEINDL, A. & SCHINKO, I. - The ventricular system of the opossum brain. Scanning electr.Microsc. 2:861, 1978.

Brasil

Brasil

Correlative scanning and transmission electron microscopic study on the ependymal surface of Bradypus Tridactylus

Estudo correlativo à microscopia eletrônica de varredura e de transmissão da superfície ependimal de Bradypus tridactylus

Abstracts

Publication Dates