Differentiation of ependymal surface of lateral ventricles in fetus and newborn rabbits: observations by SEM.

The ultrastructural modifications that occur on the ependymal surface of the lateral ventricles of prenatal rabbit brains at 25, 27, 29 days of pregnancy, of term fetuses (30-31 days) and of 5, 10, 15 day old newborn rabbits, were studied by a SEM. On the ependymal surface the cilia, usually associated in tufts and the microvilli, variable in size and number, that surround them, show a rate of development correlated to the age. The results show the early differentiation of the surface features commensurated with early cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) functioning.