Ependymal cells are ciliated-epithelial glial cells that develop from radial glia along the surface of the ventricles of the brain and the spinal canal. They play a critical role in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) homeostasis, brain metabolism, and the clearance of waste from the brain.

How do ependymal cells function?

The ependymal cells have many important functions in the developing brain that they are no longer needed in the mature brain. In the adult brain, they are responsible for the transport of electrolytes and some solutes between the cerebrospinal fluid and the brain parenchyma.

How do ependymal cells produce CSF?

The layer of ependymal-derived cells surrounding the blood vessels of the choroid plexus functions mainly to produce CSF. This is accomplished through the selective uptake of water and certain other molecules from the blood into the cells.