CSF flow pathways through the ventricle-cistern interfaces in kaolin-induced hydrocephalus rats-laboratory investigation.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to identify direct cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathways in the interface between ventricles and cisterns. Such routes are hypothesized to be involved in alternative CSF flows in abnormal circumstances of CSF circulation.


METHODS
Chronic obstructive hydrocephalus models were induced in ten Sprague-Dawley rats with kaolin injection into the cisterna magna. Three weeks after the kaolin injection, when thick arachnoid fibrosis obliterated the fourth ventricular outlets, cationized ferritin was stereotactically infused as a tracer into the lateral ventricle in order to observe the pathways from the ventricles to the subarachnoid space. Animals were killed in 48 h and brains were sectioned. CSF flow pathways were traced by the staining of ferritin with ferrocyanide.


RESULTS
Eight out of ten rats developed hydrocephalus. The subarachnoid membranes of the convexity and basal cisterns were severely adhered such that most of the ferritin remained in the ventricles whereas basal and convexity cisterns were clear of ferritin. In six out of the eight hydrocephalus rats, ferritin leaked from the third ventricle into the quadrigeminal cistern, and from the lateral ventricle into the ambient cistern.


CONCLUSIONS
The interfaces between the third ventricle and the quadrigeminal cistern, and between the lateral ventricle and the ambient cistern appear to be alternative CSF pathways in a pathologic condition such as obstructive hydrocephalus.
Department of Neurosurgery, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Heukseok-ro 102, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jong-Seok
JS
Yoon
Department of Neurosurgery, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Heukseok-ro 102, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Taek-kyun
TK
Nam
Department of Neurosurgery, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Heukseok-ro 102, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jeong-taik
JT
Kwon
Department of Neurosurgery, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Heukseok-ro 102, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Seung-won
SW
Park
Department of Neurosurgery, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Heukseok-ro 102, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. cuttage@cau.ac.kr.
Yong-sook
YS
Park
D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000633:toxicity; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D002946:Cisterna Magna / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005293:Ferritins / Q000378:metabolism; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D007616:Kaolin / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000930:Antidiarrheals; D007616:Kaolin; D005293:Ferritins
CSF circulation; Cerebral ventricle; Cerebrospinal fluid; Hydrocephalus; Kaolin