Modifications in cortical ependyma of the lizard, Podarcis hispanica, during postnatal development.

The ependymal surface, cell number, cell size and cell density were measured in adult and neonatal exemplars of the lizard, Podarcis hispanica. The ependymal monostratified surface increases with age, while that of sulcal areas decreases and the ependymocyte number remains constant. The mitotic activity found in the neonatal sulcal areas could explain the postnatal increase of neuronal number described for the cerebral cortex of the studied species.