Table 2.
Morphological characteristics of the different cell types in the adult mouse central canal.
| Ependymal | Astrocyte | Neuron | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CONTOUR | Smooth, radial | Interdigitated, radial | Smooth, apical expansion |
| CYTOPLASM | Dark | Light | Medium |
| NUCLEI | Round-oval | Irregular | Round |
| CHROMATIN | Small clumps | Clumped | Lax |
| NUCLEOLI | 3–4 | 1–2 | 1–2 |
| RER | + | + | ++++ |
| GOLGI | +++ | + | +++ |
| MITOCHONDRIA | ++++ | ++ | +++ |
| FREE RIBOSOMES | + | ++ | ++++ |
| INTER. FILAMENTS | ++++ | ++ | No |
| MICROTUBULES | No | No | +++ |
| LIPID DROPLETS | Yes | No | No |
| CILIA | 1–4 | 1 | 1 |
| MICROVILLI | Yes | Yes | No |
These characteristics are based on serial section ultrathin reconstruction of the different cell types. RER, rough endoplasmic reticulum; +, few; ++, intermediate; +++, abundant; ++++, extremely abundant.