Ependymal cilia decline and AQP4 upregulation in young adult rats with syringomyelia

Syringomyelia involves fluid-filled cysts forming in the spinal cord, leading to sensory and motor issues. Ependymal cells, key in water transport, might be a treatment target. The study found that in rats with syringomyelia, connections between ependymal cells were missing, and cilia, which help move fluid, were significantly reduced. Furthermore, neuronal necrosis began in the acute stage of syringomyelia, and reached its peak one month later. Pathological changes in axonal rupture at anterior commissure (connection of the left and right white matter) could be observed in syringomyelia spinal tissue.

• 1
  Ependymal cilia are significantly reduced in syringomyelia, with altered morphology, and cell junctions between ependymal cells are loose and broken.
• 2
  Ependymal cells proliferate significantly from 3 days to 2 months after syringomyelia induction, then decrease. The syrinx keeps expanding from day 3 to 12 months.
• 3
  Syringomyelia induces an inflammatory response, shown by increased IBA1+ microglia cells in spinal cord tissue.