Postnatal ependymogenesis occuring in wild-type hyh mice increases significantly in hydrocephalic hyh mice

Abstract

Background The hyh (hydrocephalus with hop gait) mouse carries a point mutation in alpha-SNAP protein and develops inherited hydrocephalus. Mutant mice are born with moderate hydrocephalus and a patent Sylvius aqueduct (SA). During the first postnatal week, SA obliterates and a severe hydrocephalus characterized by an enormous expansion of the dorsal third ventricle and of the collicular recess of the SA, develops. Interestingly, neither of these dilated cavities present spontaneous ventriculostomies. The aim of the present investigation was to elucidate some of the cellular phenomena occurring at the ventricular walls that allow such enormous ventricular dilatations.