Bi- and uniciliated ependymal cells define continuous floor-plate-derived tanycytic territories

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Multiciliated ependymal (E1) cells line the brain ventricles and are essential for brain homeostasis. We previously identified in the lateral ventricles a rare ependymal subpopulation (E2) with only two cilia and unique basal bodies. Here we show that E2 cells form a distinct biciliated epithelium extending along the ventral third into the fourth ventricle. In the third ventricle floor, apical profiles with only primary cilia define an additional uniciliated (E3) epithelium. E2 and E3 cells' ultrastructure, marker expression and basal processes indicate that they correspond to subtypes of tanycytes. Using sonic hedgehog lineage tracing, we show that the third and fourth ventricle E2 and E3 epithelia originate from the anterior floor plate. E2 and E3 cells complete their differentiation 2-3 weeks after birth, suggesting a link to postnatal maturation. These data reveal discrete bands of E2 and E3 cells that may relay information from the CSF to underlying neural circuits along the ventral midline.

Medical Subject Headings

Aged; Animals; Biomarkers (metabolism); Brain Mapping; CD24 Antigen (genetics, metabolism); Cell Differentiation; Cell Lineage; Cell Tracking (methods); Cilia (metabolism, ultrastructure); Ependyma (metabolism, ultrastructure); Ependymoglial Cells (metabolism, ultrastructure); Female; Gene Expression; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (genetics, metabolism); Hedgehog Proteins (genetics, metabolism); Humans; Male; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Middle Aged; Nerve Net (metabolism, ultrastructure); Nestin (genetics, metabolism); S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit (genetics, metabolism); Vimentin (genetics, metabolism)

Publication Date

1-9-2017

Publication Title

Nature communications

E-ISSN

2041-1723

Volume

8

First Page

13759

PubMed ID

28067220

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/ncomms13759

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