Ultrastructural pathology of anaplastic and grade II ependymomas reveals distinctive ciliary structures--electron microscopy redux.
Ependymoma tumors likely derive from the ependymal cells lining the CNS ventricular system. In grade II ependymomas, tumor cells resemble typical ependymocytes, while anaplastic ependymomas are poorly differentiated. We studied three grade II and one anaplastic ependymoma, focusing on the ciliary structures. To unambiguously characterize the ultrastructure and number of cilia, we performed electron microscopy serial section analysis of individual cells. Differentiated ependymomas contained large basal bodies and up to three cilia, and lacked centrioles. Anaplastic ependymoma cells showed instead two perpendicularly oriented centrioles and lacked cilia or basal bodies. These findings could contribute to understand the mechanisms of ependymoma aggressiveness.
Laboratory of Comparative Neurobiology, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Universidad de Valencia , CIBERNED, Valencia , Spain .
Clara
C
Alfaro-Cervelló
Mario
M
Soriano-Navarro
Mónica
M
Ramírez
Laia
L
Bernet
Marcos
M
Martinez Banaclocha
Rafael
R
Cano
Rosa M
RM
Reyes Santías
Jerónimo
J
Forteza-Vila
José Manuel
JM
García-Verdugo
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002648:Child; D002923:Cilia / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D055815:Young Adult
Anaplastic ependymoma; cilia; electron microscopy; ependymoma; primary cilium