title: Cilia-based flow network in the brain ventricles.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid conveys many physiologically important signaling factors through the ventricular cavities of the brain. We investigated the transport of cerebrospinal fluid in the third ventricle of the mouse brain and discovered a highly organized pattern of cilia modules, which collectively give rise to a network of fluid flows that allows for precise transport within this ventricle. We also discovered a cilia-based switch that reliably and periodically alters the flow pattern so as to create a dynamic subdivision that may control substance distribution in the third ventricle. Complex flow patterns were also present in the third ventricles of rats and pigs. Our work suggests that ciliated epithelia can generate and maintain complex, spatiotemporally regulated flow networks.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Faubel
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Fassberg 17, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Westendorf
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Fassberg 17, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bodenschatz
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. gregor.eichele@mpibpc.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eichele
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology; D004805:Ependyma / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D013552:Swine; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*