Introduction. The questions of morphology of neural stem cells (NSC) and their subsequent differentiation of the mantle layer is a topic of discussion until today.
Purpose. Setting morphometric parameters and structural histological features of the ependymal (matrix) layer of the spinal cord of fetuses of human with congenital abnormalities.
Materials and methods. It was conducted the anatomical and histological study of spinal cord fetus of human birth defects, namely: siamese twins (term gestation (TG) — 17–18 weeks), anencephaly (TG — 17–18 weeks), lumbar hernia (spina bifida) (TG — 17–18 weeks and 20–21 weeks), which was accompanied by hydrocephalus and skull tower (TG — 20–21 week).
Results. The area of the ependymal layer of the right fetus of the Siamese twins at the cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments is 0.018, 0.008 and 0.016 mm2. The same value at the left fetus was 0.021, 0.011 and 0.023 mm2 correspondently. The thickness of the ependymal layer both the right and left of the fetus throughout the spinal cord dorsal direction decreases. Average size of morphometric parameters of NSC are the following — the right fetus (4.8±0.5)´(9.5±0.3) microns, at the left fetus — (5.1±0.4)´(10.1±0.7) microns. Overall area ependymal layer at cervical segments anencephaly was 0.005 mm2 at thoracic segments — 0.002 mm2 and at the lumbar segments — 0.008 mm2. The average area of the NSC was (27.4±2.2) mcm2. In the fetus 17–18 weeks natal period area ependymal layer at the cervical and thoracic segments respectively was 0.020 and 0.006 mm2. In the lumbar segments we established the presence of a defect in a doubling of the center channel. The average area of the NSC is (40.7±2.1) mcm2 and size — (4.5±0.8)´(9.1±0.5) microns. In the fetus with spina bifida 20–21 weeks area ependymal layer at the cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments is equal to 0.016 mm2, 0.006 and 0.009 mcm2. The average area of the NSC is (38.6±1.7) mcm2. In human fetal skull area of the tower ependymal layer at the cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments is 0.010 mcm2, 0.007 and 0.013 mcm2, and the average area NSC is (40.6±3.2) mcm2 and size — (6.1±0.4)´(9.2±0.5) microns.
Conclusions. In human fetuses with malformations it was established different area and thickness of the matrix layer of the spinal cord, the morphology of the NSC and the nature of their migration in the mantle layer.