59mantle lining the CC harbors no less than three morphologically different cell types:
(a) ciliated ependymocytes with short basal processes entering the adjacent nervous
tissue, (b) ciliated ependymocytes with long processes reaching the pial surface
(RG-like cells) and (c) typical CSFcNs (Fig. 5.1a–c) The first kind of ependymal
cell predominates in the lateral domains of the CC while RG-like cells are mainly
concentrated in both polar regions. In contrast, CSFcNs do not have preferential
Fig. 5.1 (a) Nestin + processes (in red) from cell bodies far apart from the ependymal channel
lumen invade the layer composed of ependymocytes and CSFcNs (GFP). (b–c) The CSFcNs of
genetically modified mice expressing GFP under the control of GATA3 transcription factor
(GATA3-GFP). GFP is expressed in both cell bodies (arrows) and intra-lumen enlarged apical
processes. These peculiar neurons also express DCX, a marker of immature neurons. (c), 3D image
of a stalk of 54 optical sections covering the CC a GATA3-GFP mouse (CSFcNs are pointed by
arrows). The actin skeleton of the apical compartments of the ependymal cells appear as a red fluo-
rescent network (phalloidin conjugated fluorophore). The enlarged rectangle shows a cross section
of a neuron prolongation passing through an apparent “hole” of the actin network. Calibration
bars: (a), 20 μm; (b) and (c), 5 μm
5 Spinal Cord Stem Cells In Their Microenvironment: The Ependyma as a Stem Cell...