Kasantikul V, Netsky M G, James A E
J Neurosurg. 1979 Jul;51(1):85-93. doi: 10.3171/jns.1979.51.1.0085.
The central canal of the spinal cord in man with and without hydrocephalus was studied histologically. The lumen was patent in most patients in the first two decades of life. Cells lining the canal in the prenatal and newborn state and in the first decade of life were predominantly pseudostratified ciliated epithelium. In the second decade, the epithelium became simple columnar or cuboidal. The central canal closed in most cases after the age of 20 years, secondary to proliferation of ependymal cells and astrocytes. Mechanisms whereby the number of glial cells increase are considered. The canal was closed in all adults with normal ventricular size, and in 94% of persons with various degrees of hydrocephalus. In the remaining 6% of cases with hydrocephalus, the lining of the canal resembled that seen in the first two decades, and could have acted as a pathway of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) absorption. Three cases of severe hydrocephalus in the first two decades of life were encountered; the central canal was patent in one, and occluded in two. Based on these data, the canal was not a significant pathway of CSF absorption in most instances of hydrocephalus and in persons with dilated ventricles who were older than 20 years of age.
对有和没有脑积水的人类脊髓中央管进行了组织学研究。在生命的前二十年，大多数患者的管腔是通畅的。产前、新生儿期以及生命的第一个十年，中央管内衬的细胞主要是假复层纤毛上皮。在第二个十年，上皮变为单层柱状或立方形。在20岁以后，大多数情况下中央管会闭合，这是室管膜细胞和星形胶质细胞增殖的结果。研究了神经胶质细胞数量增加的机制。所有脑室大小正常的成年人以及94%不同程度脑积水的患者，中央管均已闭合。在其余6%的脑积水病例中，中央管内衬与生命前二十年所见相似，可能起到了脑脊液（CSF）吸收途径的作用。遇到了三例生命前二十年患有严重脑积水的病例；其中一例中央管通畅，两例闭塞。基于这些数据，在大多数脑积水病例以及20岁以上脑室扩大的人群中，中央管并非脑脊液吸收的重要途径。
