Stratification of Spinal Ependyma in Rats in Response to Injury

ABSTRACT 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