Ultrastructural observations in experimental hydrocephalus in the rabbit

Changes in the ependyma and periventricular brain tissues of the lateral, 3rd and 4th ventricles and the cervical spinal canal were studied electron-microscopically in young rabbits on the 9th day after injecting kaolin into the cisterna magna. The ependyma of the lateral ventricle overlying the white matter was notably stretched causing increased egress of CSF and disorganisation of the normal architecture of the white matter and capillaries. The neurons and glial cells close to the white matter showed edematous changes. The changes in the ependymal lining and the underlying grey matter were less severe in the dorsal part of the 3rd and the 4th ventricle. The ventral part of the 3rd ventricle was the least affected. The height and the arrangement of the ependymal cells, the surrounding grey matter with narrow interstitial spaces and the absorbing tanycytes seemed to be factors which were responsible for the minimal changes in these regions. The changes appeared to be reversible if the CSF pressure was relieved at this stage. The spinal canal remained unaffected in the majority of our hydrocephalic animals, which could probably be attributed to the type of animal and the degree of hydrocephalus.