Tanycytes are special ependymal cells found in the third ventricle of the brain, and on the floor of the fourth ventricle and have processes extending deep into the hypothalamus. It is possible that their function is to transfer chemical signals from the cerebrospinal fluid to the central nervous system.
Tanycyte | |
---|---|
Details | |
Location | Ependyma of third ventricle of the brain |
Identifiers | |
Latin | tanycytus |
NeuroLex ID | sao1149261773 |
TH | H2.00.06.2.01007 |
FMA | 54560 |
Anatomical terms of microanatomy [edit on Wikidata] |
The term tanycyte comes from the Greek word tanus which means elongated.
Tanycytes in adult mammals are found in the ventricular system and the circumventricular organs. They are most numerous in the third ventricle of the brain, are also found in the fourth ventricle, and can also be seen in the spinal cord radiating from the ependyma of the central canal to the spinal cord surface. Tanycytes represent approximately 0.6% of the population of the lateral ventricular wall.[1]
Tanycytes have also been shown in vivo to serve as a diet-responsive neurogenic niche.[2]
Recent work suggests that tanycyte cells bridge the gap between the central nervous system (CNS) via cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to the hypophyseal portal blood.[3][4]
Researches in 2005 and 2010[5][6] found that tanycytes participate in the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH is released by neurons located in the rostral hypothalamus. These nerve fibers are concentrated in the region that exactly matches the distribution of β1 tanycytes. β1 and β2 tanycytes are found nearer the arcuate nucleus and the median eminence.[7]