Summary
A fine structural study of a myxopapillary ependymoma of the filum terminale confirms and emphasizes the distinctive morphological features of this tumor. Electron basement membrane production were identified. It is suggested that they are related to the growth of ependymal tumor cells in juxtaposition to the collagen normally present in the conus medullaris and filum terminale.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Birge, W. J.: Tissue interactions associated with the differentiation of tresumptive spongioblasts of the chick neural tube. Anat. Rec.140, 345–351 (1961).
Birge, W. J.: Induced choroid plexus development in the chick metencephalon. J. comp. Neurol.118, 89–93 (1962).
Brightman, M. W., Palay, S. L.: The fine structure of ependyma in the brain of the rat. J. Cell Biol.19, 415–439 (1963).
Dohrmann, G. J., Bucy, P. C.: Human choroid plexus: a light and electron microscopic study. J. Neurosurg.33, 506–516 (1970).
Goebel, H. H., Cravioto, H.: Ultrastructure of human and experimental ependymomas. J. Neuropath. exp. Neurol.31, 54–71 (1972).
Guillery, R. W., Sobkowicz, H. M., Scott, G. L.: Light and electron microscopical observations of the ventral horn and ventral root in long term cultures of the spinal cord of the fetal mouse. J. comp. Neurol.134, 433–476 (1968).
Guillery, R. W., Sobkowicz, H. M., Scott, G. L.: Relationship between glial and neuronal elements in the development of long term cultures of the spinal cord of the fetal mouse. J. comp. Neurol.140, 1–34 (1970).
Hirano, A., Ghatak, N. R., Wisoff, H. S., Zimmerman, H. M.: Comparative ultrastructural study of ependymoma and ependymal cyst. Amer. J. Path.62, 11a (1971).
Jones, E. G.: On the mode of entry of blood vessels into the cerebral cortex. J. Anat. (Lond.)106, 507–520 (1970).
Kefalides, N. K.: The chemistry and structure of basement membranes. Arthr. and Rheum.12, 427–443 (1969).
Kernohan, J. W.: Cytology and cellular pathology of the nervous system, vol. 3, by W. Penfield, ed. New York: Hafner 1965.
Luse, S. A.: Electron microscopic studies of brain tumors. Neurology (Minneap.)10, 881–905 (1960).
Maxwell, D. S., Kruger, L., Pineda, A.: The trigeminal nerve root with special reference to the central-peripheral transition zone: an electron microscopic study in the Macaque. Anat. Rec.164, 113–126 (1969).
Miller, C. A.: The ultrastructure of the conus medullaris and filum terminale. J. comp. Neurol.132, 547–566 (1968).
Miller, C. A., Torack, R. M.: Secretory ependymoma of the filum terminale. Acta neuropath. (Berl.)15, 240–250 (1970).
Morse, D. E., Low, F. N.: The fine structure of the pia mater of the rat. Amer. J. Anat.133, 349–354 (1972).
Pierce, G. B.: Basement membranes.—VI. Synthesis by epithelial tumors of the mouse. Cancer Res.25, 656–660 (1965).
Pierce, G. B.: The development of basement membranes of the mouse embryo. Develop. Biol.13, 231–249 (1966).
Pierce, G. B., Midgley, A. R., Ram, J. Sr.: Parietal yolk sac carcinoma: clue to the histogenesis of Reichert's membrane of the mouse embryo. Amer. J. Path.41, 549–557 (1962).
Pierce, G. B., Jr., Midgley, A. R., Jr., Ram, J. Sri.: The histogenesis of basement membranes. J. exp. Med.117, 339–348 (1963).
Pierce, G. B., Nakane, P. K.: Antigens of epithelial basement membranes of mouse, rat and man. Lab. Invest.17, 499–514 (1967).
Raimondi, A. J.: Ultrastructure and biology of human brain tumors. In: Progress in neurological surgery, vol. 1. H. Krayenbühl, P. E. Maspes, and W. H. Sweet, eds. Basel-New York: Karger 1966.
Ramsey, H. J.: Fine structure of the surface of the cerebral cortex of human brain. J. Cell Biol.26, 323–333 (1965).
Ross, M. D., Burkel, W.: Electron microscopic observations of the nucleus, glial dome and meninges of the rat acoustic nerve. Amer. J. Anat.130, 73–92 (1971).
Reynolds, E. S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electronopaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol.17, 208–212 (1963).
Russell, D. S., Rubinstein, L. J.: Pathology of tumors of the nervous system, third edition. Baltimore: The Williams and Wilkins Comp. 1971.
Slooff, J. L., Kernohan, J. W., MacCarty, C. S.: Primary intramedullary tumors of the spinal cord and filum terminale. Philadelphia-London: W. B. Saunders Comp. 1964.
Tani, E., Ametani, T.: Polygonal crystalline structures in human ependymoma cells. Acta neuropath. (Berl.)15, 359–362 (1970).
Tarlov, I. M.: Structure of the filum terminale. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. (Chic.)40, 1–17 (1938).
Tennyson, V. M., Pappas, G. D.: An electron microscope study of ependymal cells of the fetal, early postnatal and adult rabbit. Z. Zellforsch.56, 595–618 (1962).
Watson, M. L.: Staining of tissue sections for electron microscopy with heavy metals. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol.4, 475–479 (1958).
Wolff, J. R., Hosli, E., Hosli, L.: Basement membrane material and glial cells in spinal cord cultures of newborn rat. Brain Res.32, 198–202 (1971).
Wolff, M., Santiago, H., Duby, M. M.: Delayed distant metastasis from a subcutaneous sacrococcygeal ependymoma. Cancer (Philad.)30, 1046–1067 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by research grants from the Damon Rynyon Memorial Cancer Fund # DRG 1092), the National Cancer Institute # CA 11689) and by Graduate Neuropathology Training Grant # 5T01 NS 5500-07) of the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, U. S. Public Health Service
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rawlinson, D.G., Herman, M.M. & Rubinstein, L.J. The fine structure of a myxopapillary ependymoma of the filum terminale. Acta Neuropathol 25, 1–13 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686853
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686853