Skip to main content
Log in

A comparative scanning electron microscopic analysis of the human cerebral ventricular system

1. The third ventricle

  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A scanning electron microscopic analysis of the adult human third ventricular wall revealed ultra-architectural differences between dorsal and ventral portions. In the brains of thirteen and sixteen week old human fetuses regional differences in the surface organization of lining ependyma were more sharply defined than those of the adult. Alterations in the luminal surfaces of ependyma may reflect differences in the functional capacity of various ventricular areas. The potential role of certain ependyma (tanycytes) and their putative participation in neuroendocrine events is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bargmann, W.: Über die neurosekretorische Verknüpfung von Hypothalamus und Neurohypophyse. Z. Zellforsch. 34, 610–634 (1949).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleier, R.: Structural relationship of ependymal cells and their processes within the hypothalamus. In: Brain-Endocrine Interaction. Median Eminence: Structure and Function; Int. Symp. Munich 1971, p. 306–318, ed. by K. M. Knigge, D. E. Scott, and A. Weindl. Basel: Karger 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruni, E., Montemurro, D.: Personal communication (1972).

  • Carr, K. E.: Applications of scanning electron microscopy in biology. Int. Rev. Cytol. 31, 183–254 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Clemente, F., Marini, D.: The surface fine structure of the walls of cerebral ventricles and of choroid plexus in cat. Z. Zellforsch. 123, 82–95 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dohrmann, G. L.: The choroid plexus: A historical review. Brain Res. 18, 197–218 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagedoorn, J. P.: Hypothalamic neurosecretory activity in relation to the reproductive cycle in the common striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis nigra; order Carnivora). Z. Zellforsch. 75, 1–10 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Holzwarth, M. A.: Personal communication (1971).

  • Ibraham, D., Kamberi, A., Mical, R. S., Porter, J. C.: Effect of anterior pituitary perfusion and intraventricular injection of catecholamines and indolamines on LH release. Endocrinology 87, 1–12 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, J. W., Jacobs, J. J., Kramer, R. M.: Studies on the transport of hormones from cerebrospinal fluid to hypothalamus and pituitary. In: Brain-Endocrine Interaction. Median Eminence: Structure and Function; Int. Symp. Munich 1971, p. 342–349, ed. by K. M. Knigge, D. E. Scott, and A. Weindl. Basel: Karger 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knigge, K. M., Joseph, S. A., Scott, D. E., Jacobs, J. J.: Observations on the architecture of the arcuate-median eminence region after deafferentation, with reference to the organization of hypothalamic RF-producing elements, p. 6–22. In: The neuroendocrinology of human reproduction, ed. by H. C. Mack and A. I. Sherman. Springfield: C. C. Thomas 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knigge, K. M., Scott, D. E.: Structure and function of the median eminence. Amer. J. Anat. 129, 223–244 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Knigge, K. M., Silverman, A. J.: Transport capacity of the median eminence, p. 350–363. In: Brain-Endocrine Interaction. Median Eminence: Structure and Function; Int. Symp. Munich 1971, ed. by K. M. Knigge, D. E. Scott, and A. Weindl. Basel: Karger 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knowles, F., Anand Kumar, T. C.: Structural changes related to reproduction in the hypothalamus and in the parstuberalis of the rhesus monkey: Part I. The hypothalamus; Part II. The pars tuberalis. Phil. Trans. B 256, 357–375 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi, H.: Median eminence of the hagfish and ependymal absorption in higher vertebrates, p. 67–78. In: Brain-Endocrine Interaction. Median Eminence: Structure and Function; Int. Symp. Munich 1971, ed. by K. M. Knigge, D. E. Scott, and A. Weindl. Basel: Karger 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi, H., Matsui, T., Ishii, S.: Functional electron microscopy of the hypothalamic median eminence. Int. Rev. Cytol. 29, 291–381 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Leonhardt, H.: Über ependymale Tanycyten des III. Ventrikels beim Kaninchen in elektronenmikroskopischer Betrachtung. Z. Zellforsch. 74, 1–11 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Leonhardt, H., Lindner, E.: Marklose Nervenfaseren im III. und IV. Ventrikel des Kaninchen- und Katzengehirns. Z. Zellforsch. 78, 1–18 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Leveque, T. F.: The medial prechiasmatic area in the rat and LH secretion, p. 298–305. In: Brain-Endocrine Interaction. Median Eminence: Structure and Function; Int. Symp. Munich 1971, ed. by K. M. Knigge, D. E. Scott, and A. Weindl. Basel: Karger 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leveque, T. F., Hofkin, G. A.: Demonstration of an alcohol-chloroform insoluble periodic acid-Schiff reactive substance in the hypothalamus of the rat. Z. Zellforsch. 53, 185–191 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Leveque, T. F., Stutinsky, F., Porte, A., Stoeckel, M. E.: Morphologie fine d'une différenciation glandulaire du recessus infundibulaire chez le rat. Z. Zellforsch. 69, 381–394 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Leveque, T. F., Stutinsky, F., Porte, A., Stoeckel, M. E.: Ultrastructure of the medial prechiasmatic gland in the rat and mouse. Neuroendocrinology 2, 56–63 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Leveque, T. F., Stutinsky, F., Stoeckel, M. E., Porte, A.: Sur les caractères ultrastructuraux d'une formation glandulaire périventriculaire dans l'éminence médiane du rat. C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 260, 4621–4623 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Löfgren, F.: The infundibular recess, a component in the hypothalamo-adenohypophyseal system. Acta morph. neerl.-scand. 3, 55–78 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Löfgren, F.: On the transport mechanism between the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary. Kungl. Fysiograf. Sällskapet Lund. Fork. 30, 115–117 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Löfgren, F.: The glial-vascular apparatus in the floor of the infundibular cavity. Lunds Univ. Årsskr., N.F. 57, 1–18 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Marovitz, W., Kaufman Arenberg, I., Thalmann, R.: Evaluation of preparative techniques for the scanning electron microscope. Laryngoscope (St. Louis) 80, 1680–1700 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, D. S., Pease, D. C.: The electron microscopy of the choroid plexus. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 2, 467–474 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • Monroe, B. G.: Ultrastructural reorganization of the infundibular stem and median eminence following hypophysectomy in the rat. Anat. Rec. 157, 289 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez, E. M.: Ultrastructure of the neurohaemal region of the toad median eminence. Z. Zellforsch. 93, 182–212 (1969a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez, E. M.: Ependymal specializations. I. Fine structure of the neural (internal) region of the toad median eminence, with particular reference to the connections between ependymal cells and the subependymal capillary loops. Z. Zellforsch. 102, 153–171 (1969b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez, E. M.: Comparative and functional morphology of the median eminence, p. 319–334. In: Brain-Endocrine Interaction. Median Eminence: Structure and Function; Int. Symp. Munich 1971, ed. by K. M. Knigge, D. E. Scott, and A. Weindl. Basel: Karger 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schimrigk, K.: Über die Wandstruktur der Seitenventrikel und des dritten Ventrikels beim Menschen. Z. Zellforsch. 70, 1–20 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, D. E., Dudley, Krobisch, G., Gibbs, F. P., Brown, G. M.: The mammalian median eminence, a comparative and experimental model, p. 35–49. In: Brain-Endocrine Interaction. Median Eminence: Structure and Function; Int. Symp. Munich 1971, ed. by K. M. Knigge, D. E. Scott and A. Weindl. Basel: Karger 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, D. E., Knigge, K. M.: Ultrastructural changes in the median eminence of the rat following deafferentation of the basal hypothalamus. Z. Zellforsch. 105, 1–32 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, D. E., Knigge, K. M., Dudley, Krobisch, G.: The mammalian median eminence, a neuroendocrine transducer. Sci. Amer. (in press, 1971).

  • Silverman, A. J., Knigge, K. M.: Transport capacity of median eminence, I. Amino acid transport. Neuroendocrinology 9, 123–132 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, A. J., Knigge, K. M.: Transport capacity of median eminence. II. Thyroxine transport. Neuroendocrinology (in press, 1972).

  • Torack, R. M., Finke, E. H.: Evidence for the sequestration of function within area postrema based on scanning electron microscopy and the penetration of horseradish peroxidase. Z. Zellforsch. 118, 85–96 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Vigh, B., Röhlich, P., Teichmann, I., Aros, B.: Ependymosecretion (ependymal neurosecretion) VI. Light and electron microscopic examination of the subcommissural organ of the guinea pig. Acta. biol. Acat. Sci. hung. 18, 53–66 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Vigh-Teichmann, I., Vigh, B.: Structure and function of the liquor contacting neurosecretory system, p. 329–338. In: Aspects of neuroendocrinology, ed. by W. Bargmann and B. Scharrer. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1970a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vigh-Teichmann, I., Vigh, B., Koritsánszky, S., Aros, B.: Liquor-Kontaktneurone im Nucleus infundibularis. Z. Zellforsch. 108, 17–34 (1970b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weindl, A., Joynt, R. J.: The median eminence as a circumventricular organ, p. 280–297. In: Median eminence: Structure and function, int. symp. Munich, 1971 ed. by K. M. Knigge, D. E. Scott, and A. Weindl. Basel: Karger 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittkowski, W.: Zur funktionellen Morphologie ependymaler und extraependymaler Glia im Rahmen der Neurosekretion. Z. Zellforsch. 86, 111–128 (1968a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittkowski, W.: Electronenmikroskopische Studien zur intraventrikulären Neurosekretion in den Recessus infundibularis der Maus. Z. Zellforsch. 92, 207–216 (1968b).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Supported by U.S.P.H.S. Grant NS 08171.

U.S.P.H.S. Career Development Awardee K 04 GM 70001.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Scott, D.E., Paull, W.K. & Dudley, G.K. A comparative scanning electron microscopic analysis of the human cerebral ventricular system. Z.Zellforsch 132, 203–215 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307011

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307011

Key words

Navigation