Developmental Changes in Choroid Plexus Epithelium: A Review

The ventricular system develops from the single cavity formed by hollow neural tube, and consists of the paired lateral ventricles, midline third and fourth ventricles. During the early prenatal life, the neural tube is filled with amniotic fluid, which later on is synthesized by specialized vascular structure called choroid plexus. The choroid plexus is the principal source of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which functions as a fluid cushion and removes the nervous system waste in vertebrates. Choroid plexus epithelial cells are the site of blood/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier and maintain molecular transfer between the two compartments. Their mitotic activity in adult is very low. During development, the pattern of growth and timing of acquisition of functional properties of plexus epithelium are not known. In addition, the choroid plexus-CSF system has been shown to be integral for normal brain development, central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis, and repair after disease and trauma.