Abstracto

Stratification of Spinal Ependyma in Rats in Response to Injury

Mohamed Noorulla, and Venugopala Rao B.

The ependymal lining of the central canal in response to injury was investigated in young rats. A unilateral incision on the dorsolateral aspect of the spinal cord (thoraco-lumbar region) was made, after laminectomy, without injuring the ependyma after laminectomy. The sham operated controlled and lesioned spinal cords at different periods, from day 1 to 21 (post-operative) were processed for light microscopy. It was observed that the lumen of the central canal of the lesioned spinal cords was collapsed, irregular and lined by stratified layer (3to 4 layers) of ependyma. The ependymal cells in the lesioned spinal cords proliferated in response to injury. The ependyma lining the central canal of the spinal cord in rats retains regenerative capacity - a phylogenetic feature of lower forms which can be evoked by a local injury.