The rat epithalamus. I. Correlative scanning-transmission electron microscopy of supraependymal nerves.

Transmission and scanning electron microscopy of the rat epithalamus shows a regional variation in the distribution of supraependymal nerves (SN) which correlates well with supraependymal yellow fluorescence reported by Richards et al. (1974). The medial habenular nucleus, the intercommissural and suprahabenular recesses, the habenular commissure and the fibrae periventriculares thalami have the greatest density of SN/100micron of ependymal surface. The floor of the suprahabenular and intercommisural recesses is covered by non-ciliated ependyma. The significance of these findings is discussed with respect to (1) a direct functional relationship of SN with ependyma, and (2) a possible participation of the non-ciliated ependyma of the suprahabenular and intercommissural recesses in secretory activity whereby the CSF serves as a vehicle for neuroendocrine communication.