Transventricular blood vessels in the third ventricle of the armadillo brain.

Transventricular filaments were observed with scanning electron microscopy on the dorsolateral wall of the infundibular recess of the third ventricle of the armadillo brain. Two to seven transventricular filaments per animal were present in 6 of 18 animals. There were two types of transventricular filaments, ciliated and bare. Using transmission electron microscopy, we determined that these filaments consisted of a single, central capillary surrounded by ciliated ependymal cells and a small accumulation of axons in five animals. In one animal, a bare filament had a central capillary surrounded by a large accumulation of axons with no surrounding ependyma. The consistent location and structure of these filaments indicate a possible function for a small vascular network, as well as a possible commissural network connecting right and left hypothalami in the region of infundibular nuclei.