Pia Mater - Research Directions

Research Directions

Research is constantly ongoing involving the pia mater. A group of hospitals in Madrid, Spain published an article in 2004 based on the ultrastructural finding in human spinal pia mater in relation to subarachnoid anesthesia. The group was researching whether or not fenestrations were present in the pia mater membrane, and the effect they have on the transfer of local anesthetics across the membrane. Based on their research, fenestrations were found at the thoracic-lumbar junction, the conus medullaris, and nerve root levels. Although proving the presence of fenestrations in certain regions involving the pia mater, the group concluded that they could not determine the significance behind these fenestrations. They speculated the fenestrations at the lumbar spinal level may in fact facilitate the movement of local anesthetics across the pia mater membrane, which could in turn affect the onset time and latency of a subarachnoid block. Although no officially conclusion was made, research is still being done to prove their speculation.