Figure 6

Transverse sections of the adult rat spinal cord at late time points after injury. Toluidine blue staining 450 days after injury 5 mm (A), 3 mm (B), and 1 mm (C) from the lesion epicenter reveals a progressive dilation of the central canal. Higher power magnification of the cells lining the central canal 5 mm (D), 3 mm (E), and 1 mm (F) from the lesion epicenter reveals a progressive loss of cilia and flattening of ependymal cells at 1 mm from the lesion epicenter (F); these cells also exhibit a more euchromatic appearing nucleus. (G) BrdU immunolabeling of the central canal at 540 days after injury 5 mm from lesion epicenter reveals BrdU immunoreactivity with a mild dilation of the central canal. (H) BrdU immunolabeling of the central canal 3 mm from lesion epicenter also reveals BrdU immunoreactivity with a moderate dilation of the central canal, but with more dispersion of cells around the canal. (I) BrdU immunolabeling of the central canal 1 mm from lesion epicenter shows diminished BrdU reactivity with severe dilation of the central canal. Hematoxylin and eosin staining at 540 days after injury 5 mm (J), 3 mm (K), and 1 mm (L) from the lesion epicenter reveals a progressive dilation of the central canal; note that the continuity of cells bordering the central canal is disrupted 1 mm from the lesion epicenter (arrow in L). Magnification = 40× for A&B, 30× for C, 300× for D-F, 40× for G-L.