The Role of Ciliated Cells of the Spinal Canal

Primary cilia are seen in almost all vertebrates and have shown different functions in different tissues. Primary cilia play an important role in the development of the neural tube, and any defect in their function can lead to neurological abnormalities. The function of cilia in the nervous system includes signaling and guiding differentiating neurons. Ependymal cells, as ciliated cells in the spinal cord receive the most attention. Ependymal cells are epithelial support cells that line the central canal and the ventricular cavities of the central nervous system, serving as a barrier between cerebrospinal fluid and brain and spinal cord tissue. The spinal ependymal layer consists of three primary cell types: tanycytes, ependymocytes, and cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons. A fourth type of cell, known as the supraependymal cell, is sometimes mentioned as well. Extensive studies have been carried out on the role of cilia in the development of the brain and nervous system, but there is not much research on these cells in the spinal cord. Therefore, this study aimed to review the published studies in this field and compile their results as a review article.