Open pathways for cerebrospinal fluid outflow at the cribriform plate along the olfactory nerves
OPEN ACCESS
Loading...
Author / Producer
Date
2023-05
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
OPEN ACCESS
Data
Abstract
Background: Routes along the olfactory nerves crossing the cribriform plate that extend to lymphatic vessels within the nasal cavity have been identified as a critical cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) outflow pathway. However, it is still unclear how the efflux pathways along the nerves connect to lymphatic vessels or if any functional barriers are present at this site. The aim of this study was to anatomically define the connections between the subarachnoid space and the lymphatic system at the cribriform plate in mice. Methods: PEGylated fluorescent microbeads were infused into the CSF space in Prox1-GFP reporter mice and decalcification histology was utilized to investigate the anatomical connections between the subarachnoid space and the lymphatic vessels in the nasal submucosa. A fluorescently-labelled antibody marking vascular endothelium was injected into the cisterna magna to demonstrate the functionality of the lymphatic vessels in the olfactory region. Finally, we performed immunostaining to study the distribution of the arachnoid barrier at the cribriform plate region. Findings: We identified that there are open and direct connections from the subarachnoid space to lymphatic vessels enwrapping the olfactory nerves as they cross the cribriform plate towards the nasal submucosa. Furthermore, lymphatic vessels adjacent to the olfactory bulbs form a continuous network that is functionally connected to lym- phatics in the nasal submucosa. Immunostainings revealed a discontinuous distribution of the arachnoid barrier at the olfactory region of the mouse. Interpretation: Our data supports a direct bulk flow mechanism through the cribriform plate allowing CSF drainage into nasal submucosal lymphatics in mice.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
91
Pages / Article No.
104558
Publisher
Elsevier
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Cerebrospinal fluid; Lymphatic vessels; Cribriform plate; Olfactory nerves; Arachnoid barrier
Organisational unit
03683 - Detmar, Michael (emeritus) / Detmar, Michael (emeritus)