Developmental Changes of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) Immunoreactivity of the Ependyma lining the Central Canal and Ventriculus Terminalis in the Human Fetus / 대한해부학회지

ABSTRACT

The distinguishing morphological features of the ependyma lining ventriculus terminalis in human fetus have suggested that its differentiation would be somewhat delayed or arrested as compared with the ependyma lining central canal. To demonstrate this hypothesis, GFAP was used as a marker to compare the developmental state of the ependyma lining ventriculus terminalis and central canal along fetal age (18 -to 24 -week -old fetuses were investigat-ed). PCNA was also used as a marker to identify whether proliferation potentiality of the ependyma lining ventriculus terminalis lasted longer than that of the ependyma lining central canal as a result of differentiation delay. GFAP -positive ependymal cells were restricted to dorsal plate at central canal but at ventriculus terminalis, many positive cells were identified in all regions compared with the ependyma lining central canal. The number of PCNA -positive ependymal cells lining central canal decreased sharply about the time of 20th week, but at ventriculus terminalis, many ependymal cells continued to express PCNA after 20th week. As a result, we could conclude that differentiation of the ependyma lining ventriculus terminalis is delayed as compared with the ependyma lining central canal. In accordance with its developmental delay, it lasts longer proliferation potentiality than the ependyma lining central canal.