Summary
The prenatal ontogenesis of the median ventricular formation (MVF) — a cell group at the seam between both sides of the mesencephalic roof — was analyzed ultrastructurally, autoradiographically and for the expression of intracytoplasmatic structures, i.e. glial filament antigen.
As compared with other regions of the mesencephalic roof it was found that from embryonal day 12 onwards DNA synthesis of ventricular cells in the dorsal midline is significantly reduced. This reduction is more pronounced at later developmental stages. On the other hand, the MVF gains drastically in width during ontogenesis. It was shown that this increase may be caused by an immigration of postmitotic neighbouring ventricular cells. The characteristic morphological feature of MVF cells is their extension from the ventricular lining to the pial basement membrane. Their dorsal processes are joined to a thin fibre bundle and predominantly display microtubules as well as filaments and glycogen within their electrolucent cytoplasm. They also contain intracellular structures that react with antibodies against glial filaments as revealed by an enzyme-coupled immunolabelling. The perikarya of MVF cells, on the other hand, are almost all situated at the same level within the ventral third of the mesencephalic roof, thus bulging concentrically at the lateral sides of the MVF. Characteristically, a subfraction of MVF cells exhibits vast amounts of rough ER. The nature and function of the MVF cells is discussed in the light of the concept of guidance of preneurons by radial glia (Sidman and Rakic 1973).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berry M, Rogers AW (1965) The migration of neuroblasts in developing cerebral cortex. J Anat 99:691–709
Choi BH, Lapham LW (1978) Radial glia in the human fetal cerebrum: a combined Golgi, immunofluorescent and electron microscopic study. Brain Res 148:295–311
Cummings JP, Felten DL (1979) A raphe dendrite bundle in the rabbit medulla. J Comp Neurol 183:1–24
Dahl D, Bignami A (1977) Preparation of antisera to neurofilament protein from chicken brain and human sciatic nerve. J Comp Neurol 176:645–658
Fujita S (1964) Analysis of neuron differentiation in the central nervous system by tritiated thymidine autoradiography. J Comp Neurol 122:311–327
Horstmann E (1954) Die Faserglia des Selachiergehirns. Z Zellforsch 39:588–617
Knigge KM, Joseph SA, Sladek JR, Notter MF, Morris M, Sundberg DK, Holzwarth MA, Hoffmann GE, O'Brien LO (1976) Uptake and transport activity of the median eminence of the hypothalamus. Intern Rev Cytol 45:363–408
Luft JH (1961) Improvements in epoxy resin embedded methods. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 9:409–414
Peters A, Feldmann M (1973) The cortical plate and molecular layer of the late rat fetus. Z Anat Entwickl Gesch 141:3–37
Raedler A, Sievers J (1975a) Studies on the development of the central nervous system: the visual system of the albino rat. Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol 50:5–88
Raedler A, Sievers J (1975b) Experimental studies on brain edema of the immature rat brain and its consequences for the development of the central nervous system represented by the visual system. Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol 51:5–60
Raedler E, Raedler A (1978) Autoradiographic study of early neurogenesis in rat neocortex. Anat Embryol 154:267–284
Raedler E, Raedler A, Feldhaus S (1981) Prenatal differentiation of colliculus superior in the rat. Bibl Anat 19:174–191
Rakić P (1972) Mode of cell migration to the superficial layers of fetal monkey neocortex. J Comp Neurol 145:61–84
Reynolds ES (1963) The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electro-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 17:208–212
Roessmann U, Velasco ME, Sindely SD, Gambetti P (1980) Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in ependymal cells during development. An immunocytochemical study. Brain Res 200:13–21
Rützel H, Schiebler TH (1980) Prenatal and early postnatal development of the glial cells in the median eminence of the rat. Cell Tissue Res 211:117–137
Sidman RL, Rakić P (1973) Neuronal migration with special reference to developing human brain: a review. Brain Res 62:1–35
Stensaas LJ (1967) The development of hippocampal and dorsolateral pallial regions of the cerebral hemisphere in fetal rabbits, I. Fifteen millimeter stage, spongioblast morphology. J Comp Neurol 129:59–70
Stensaas LJ, Stensaas SS (1968) An electron microscope study of cells in the matrix and intermediate laminae of the cerebral hemisphere of the 45 mm rabbit embryo. Z Zellforsch 91:341–365
Sturrock RR (1981) An electron microscopic study of the development of the ependyma of the central canal of the mouse spinal cord. J Anat 132:119–136
Ugrumov MV, Chandrasekhar K, Borisova NA, Mitskevich MS (1979) Light and electron microscopical investigations on the tanycyte differentiation during the perinatal period in the rat. Cell Tissue Res 201:295–303
Wagner HJ, Pilgrim Ch (1974) Extracellular and transcellular transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) through the hypothalamic tanycyte ependyma. Cell Tissue Res 152:477–491
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Raedler, E., Raedler, A. & Wegener, G. The median ventricular formation. Anat Embryol 165, 377–387 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305574
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305574