[Involutional changes in the epithelium of the human cerebral vascular plexuses and ependyma based on scanning electron microscopy data].

Vascular plexi and cerebral ependyma were studied using scanning electron microscope for young, adult and elderly patients. In the elderly the formations mentioned had a number of structural peculiarities, thus, the majority of the epithelial cells in vascular plexus were lacking microvilli, the intercellular spaces were widened having deep grooves in them. Ependymal changes with age were characterized by the disappearance of villi in some groups of cells resulting in the appearance of large zones lacking superficial structures. Special characteristics of Biondi rings in the epithelium of vascular plexus of the elderly is given, as well as their relationship with other structural components. The age-related changes may lead to dysfunction of the hemato-encephalic barrier, that may be significant for the development of aging process.