Summary
The ultrastructural appearances of the ependyma and subependymal region in the anterior part of the caudate nucleus in the dog are described. The region in this species is more complex than that previously recorded in the rat. Ependymal cells have slender processes that contribute to the fibrillar layer. A small number of tanycytes were seen in all dogs examined. The subependymal cells, excluding microglia, can be divided into two groups, those with large pale nuclei and those with smaller darker nuclei. The latter group have undifferentiated cytoplasm, and is considered to be composed of subependymal plate cells. The group with large pale nuclei is composed of tanycytes, ectopic ependymal cells and astrocytes. It was often difficult to differentiate between cells within this group. Both types of subependymal cells were seen in mitosis.
The fate of subependymal cells is discussed and it is concluded that a certain percentage diein situ while others may migrate either into the distant neuropil or form nests in the adjacent neuropil. The relationship between the subependymal plate cells and the pale nucleated cells is also discussed.
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Blakemore, W.F., Jolly, R.D. The subependymal plate and associated ependyma in the dog. An ultrastructural study. J Neurocytol 1, 69–84 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01098647
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01098647