Morphology of the regenerated spinal cord in the lizard, Anolis carolinensis

The regenerated spinal cord of the lizard, Anolis , was studied with the aid of the light and electron microscopy. The regenerated cord consists of an ependymal epithelium, descending central nerve fibers and the connective tissue of meninges. The ependymal tube is a discrete entity and is separated from the surrounding connective tissue by a basement lamina. The ependymal tube is composed of a morphologically homogeneous epithelial cell population. The ependymal cell itself fits closely the previous descriptions of the ependymal tanycyte. The majority of the regenerated central nerve fibers are contained within the ependymal tube and are fasciculated in longitudinal rows between the basal processes of adjacent ependyma cells. This association of regenerated central fibers and the ependymal tube and its relation to guidance of intercentral fiber regeneration is discussed.