Fig. 2

Changes in ependymal cells in a rat model of syringomyelia at different time points. A, H&E stained images of spinal cord demonstrate that the syrinx gradually enlarged at each time point, and ependymal cells were unevenly distributed around the central canal. The number of local ependymal cells increased sharply and gathered. At 12 months, ependymal cells became very sparse. The dotted lines at Day 14, indicate ependymal cells protruding into the central canal and arrows indicate the loss of ependymal cells. Arrowheads indicate the proliferation of ependymal cells. B, The ependymal cell count showed the dynamic change of ependymal cell number around the central canal. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001