A morphometric analysis of the postanatal development of the choroid plexus epithelium in the male and female rat

Abstract Morphometric parameters of the lateral ventricle choroid plexus epithelial cells (average area, perimeter, bounding rectangle area, average nuclear area, nuclear perimeter, nuclear circularity and average nucleocytoplasmic ratio) were studied in postnatal and juvenile (10th, 16th and 38th postnatal days) 15 male and 15 female rats. The results were statistically analyzed by factorial ANOVA. Mean values of epithelial cells area, bounding rectangle area and perimeter were significantly higher in 16 days old, than in 10 and 38 days old rats. Opposite to this, the nucleocytoplasmic ratio was lower in the 16 days old, than in 10 and 38 days old rats. Average nuclear area and perimeter showed similar trends, while nuclear circularity increased from the 10th to the 38th day. Significant sex differences were in the epithelial cells area, bounding rectangle area and perimeter, being higher in males than in females in both 16 and 38 days groups. Nucleocytoplasmic ratio was higher in 10 days old male rats, but lower in 16 and 38 days old male rats. Generally, choroid epithelial cells size increased on the 16th and then decreased on the 38th day, but still remained higher compared to the 10th day. Nuclear size after increasing on day 16, also decreased on day 38, but to values lower than on day 10. The general decrease of nucleocytoplasmic ratio which accompanied these changes indirectly suggests a functional decrease. In the investigated period the male rat choroid epithelial cells were larger, but their nucleocytoplasmic ratio, which suggests the functional status, was lower than in females, indicating sex differences in the growth dynamics of the rat choroid plexus. Abstract Morfometrijski parametri (prosečna površina, obim, površina najmanjeg opisanog četvorougla, prosečna površina nukleusa, obim nukleusa, zaokrugljenost nukleusa i prosečni nukleocitoplazmatski odnos) epitelnih ćelija Plexus choroideus- a lateralnih komora ispitani su na 15 mužjaka i 15 ženki pacova u neonatalnom i juvenilnom periodu (10., 16. i 38. postnatalni dan). Rezultati su statistički analizirani faktorskom ANOVA. Srednje vrednosti površine epitelnih ćelija, površina najmanjeg opisanog četvorougla i obim bili su signifikantno veći kod pacova starih 16 dana, nego kod onih starih 10 i 38 dana. Nasuprot tome, nukleocitoplazmatski odnos je bio niži kod pacova starih 16 dana, nego kod onih starih 10 i 38 dana. Prosečna površina i obim nukleusa pokazali su slične trendove, dok je zaokrugljenost nukleusa porasla od 10. do 38. dana. Signifikantne polne razlike su postojale u vrednostima površine epitelnih ćelija, površina najmanjeg opisanog četvorougla i obima, koje su bile više u mužjaka nego u ženki, kako u grupi staroj 16, tako i u grupi staroj 38 dana. Nukleocitoplazmatski odnos bio je veći u mužjaka nego u ženki starih 10 dana, ali niži u mužjaka starih 16 i 38 dana. U celini, veličina epitelnih ćelija horioidnog spleta porasla je 16. i potom se smanjila 38.dana, kad je još uvek bila veća nego 10. dana. Veličina nukleusa posle porasta u 16. danu, takođe se smanjila u 38. danu, ali do vrednosti koje su manje nego 10. dana. Opšte smanjenje nukleocitoplazmatskоg odnosa koje je pratilo ove promene indirektno ukazuje na opadanje funkcija. U izučavanom periodu, epitelne ćelije horioidnog spleta mužjaka pacova bile su veće, ali su njihovi funkcionalni parametri postali manji nego u ženki, što bi ukazivalo na polne razlike u dinamici rasta horioidnog spleta pacova.