Neuropathology and applied neurobiology
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Neuropathol. Appl. Neurobiol. · Feb 1997
Overexpression of nestin and vimentin in the ependyma of spinal cords from hydrocephalic infants.
The ependyma of the spinal central canal in cases of hydrocephalus shows abnormalities which vary with the aetiology of ventricular dilatation. To determine whether these ependymal changes are developmental or reactive in nature, immunohistochemical findings were compared between nine normal controls and 12 cases of hydrocephalus (three each of congenital aqueductal stenosis. Dandy-Walker malformation, Chiari type II malformation, and post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus) using antisera to nestin, vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein. ⋯ Two conclusions are suggested by this report. First, the ependyma of the spinal central canal in congenital hydrocephalus shows a delay in maturation of radial glial cells into mature astrocytes and ependymal cells. Second, areas of ependymal denudation may be repaired by the immature glial cells derived from subependymal cells.