Immunocytochemical localization of calretinin in the forebrain of the rat

Chick calretinin: purification, composition, and metal binding activity of native and recombinant forms

Chick calretinin has been previously expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity [Cheung, W-T., Richards, D.E., and Rogers, J.H. (1993) Eur. J. Biochem. 215, 401-410]. In the present study we have developed an improved purification procedure, involving a heat precipitation step followed by DEAE-cellulose chromatography with calcium-dependent elution. Native calretinin was purified from chick brainstem using the same method as for the recombinant protein but with an added affinity chromatography step. Typically 30 g of brainstem yielded 350 micrograms of protein. Several differences between the two forms imply that the native protein is acetylated at the N-terminus but otherwise unmodified. The calcium binding activities of both forms of calretinin were measured by equilibrium dialysis with 45Ca in Ca2+/EGTA buffers. The recombinant form bound 4.9 +/- 0.12 calcium ions with Kd = 0.38 +/- 0.02 microM and the native form was not significantly different. Recombinant calretinin was used to study its interaction with other cations present in cells and it was found that calcium binding was affected by Mg2+. Calretinin appears to bind 4.69 +/- 0.13 magnesium ions with Kd = 4.5 mM. Mg2+ increased the apparent dissociation constant for Ca2+. The shift is consistent with competitive binding of Ca2+ and Mg2+ to the same five sites, but Mg2+ binding is too weak to interfere significantly with Ca2+ binding under physiological conditions.

Calretinin in the thalamic reticular nucleus of the rat: distribution and relationship with ipsilateral and contralateral efferents

In order to investigate the existence of anatomical subdivisions within the thalamic reticular nucleus (Rt), the distribution of reticular neurons expressing the calcium binding protein calretinin was investigated in the rat by means of immunocytochemistry. Calretinin immunoreactive (Cr-ir) neurons were mainly distributed in the lateral and ventral regions, and along the medial border of the Rt rostral pole. Caudal to the rostral pole, many neurons were Cr-ir in the more dorsal part of the rostral two-thirds (the "dorsal cap") of the Rt. Fewer Cr-ir neurons were present more caudally along the lateral and medial borders, and in the caudalmost part of the nucleus, related to the acoustic thalamus. The distribution of Cr-ir neurons in the rostral Rt was compared with that of neurons projecting to the ipsilateral and contralateral anterior, intralaminar, midline, and mediodorsal nuclei, or to the contralateral rostral Rt. The retrograde transport of Fluorogold revealed a remarkably precise topography of the rostral Rt: different reticular areas were found to project to different thalamic nuclei, or to different rostrocaudal or mediolateral portions of the same thalamic nucleus, with a limited degree of overlap. The double-labeling experiments demonstrated that the reticular neurons projecting to the ipsilateral anterodorsal, midline, mediodorsal, and anterior intralaminar nuclei frequently expressed calretinin; by contrast, the majority of the reticular commissural neurons did not express the protein, with the exception of neurons projecting to the contralateral mediodorsal and midline nuclei. The ipsilaterally projecting calretinin-positive neurons were frequently located along the medial edge of the rostral pole and in the dorsal cap of the nucleus, segregated from the commissural calretinin-negative neurons. The combined analysis of calretinin expression patterns and tract tracing data provided further insight in the anatomical organization of the thalamic reticular nucleus, suggesting a different neurophysiological role for the ipsilaterally vs. the contralaterally projecting reticular neurons in the modulation of the synaptic activity of the dorsal thalamus.

Calretinin-containing neurons in rat cerebellar granule cell cultures

Using an antiserum against calretinin, a calcium-binding protein, we discovered two distinct neuronal cell types that stain intensely in enriched cerebellar granule cells. One neuronal cell type resembles unipolar brush cells, whereas the other resembles Lugaro cells. During early culture times, these calretinin-positive neurons are most numerous but represent less than one percent of the total neuronal population. In cultured cells, calretinin mRNA levels peak at day three in vitro, followed by a rapid decline to undetectable levels by day six in vitro. However, calretinin-immunoreactive neurons are observed up to 29 days in vitro. Excitotoxic concentrations of glutamate receptor agonists failed to elicit an excitotoxic response on the intensely staining calretinin-positive neurons, whereas greater than 95% of the cerebellar granule cells were susceptible to the excitotoxic actions of the glutamate receptor agonists. To distinguish between the two possibilities that calretinin-positive neurons either do not express glutamate receptors or they are not susceptible to the excitotoxic effects of glutamate receptor agonists, we performed immunocytochemistry using glutamate receptor antibodies to detect the presence of receptor protein. We found that the AMPA/kainate glutamate receptor (GluR2R3) colocalized with calretinin, suggesting that calretinin-immunoreactive neurons express the AMPA/kainate receptor; cerebellar granule cells, which are known to express this receptor, were also immunoreactive for the GluR2R3 receptor.

Distribution, ultrastructure, and connectivity of calretinin-immunoreactive mossy cells of the mouse dentate gyrus

Hilar mossy cells of the mouse were shown recently to display calretinin immunoreactivity (Liu et al. [1996] Exp Brain Res 108:389-403). The morphological and connectional characteristics of these cells are poorly understood. In the present study, we used immunohistochemical, electron microscopic, and neuronal tracing techniques to describe their distribution, morphology, and connectivity. The distribution of calretinin-immunoreactive mossy cells varied significantly along the dorsoventral axis of the hilus. At dorsal levels, calretinin immunoreactivity was limited largely to a subpopulation of interneurons. At mid-dorsoventral and ventral levels, however, most if not all mossy cells displayed calretinin immunoreactivity. We found that most hilar mossy cells are calretinin immunoreactive but lack gamma-aminobutyric acid, as demonstrated by postembedding immunostaining of alternate semithin sections. Calretinin-immunoreactive mossy cells typically had two to three thick dendrites covered with complex spines (thorny excrescences). Electron microscopy revealed that these spines received multiple asymmetric contacts from mossy fibres. Axons arising from these cells formed a strong belt of calretinin immunoreactivity restricted to the inner third of the dentate molecular layer. This immunoreactivity was equally dense throughout the dorsoventral length of the dentate gyrus, suggesting that axons of calretinin-immunoreactive mossy cells located in the ventral levels diverge greatly and are capable of innervating distant regions of the dentate gyrus. Ultrastructural examination showed that calretinin-immunoreactive boutons made asymmetric synaptic contacts primarily on spines and, occasionally, on dendritic shafts of granule cells and accounted for the majority of asymmetrical synapses in the inner molecular layer. Injections of the retrograde tracer wheatgerm agglutinin-gold into the dentate gyrus demonstrated that calretinin-immunoreactive mossy cells concentrated in the ventral hilus project massively to both the dorsal and ventral aspect of the contralateral dentate gyrus. A small proportion of retrogradely labelled cells showed immunoreactivity for neuropeptide Y or somatostatin. If mossy cells of the ventral hilus receive the majority of their input from ventral granule cells, one may expect ventral granule cells to be more efficient in recruiting large numbers of granule cells during synchronous activity patterns than dorsal granule cells. Spontaneous activity originating from granule cells in the ventral dentate gyrus can be propagated throughout the dorsoventral length of the dentate gyrus bilaterally via the dorsoventrally divergent and contralaterally projecting axons of the mossy cells. This organization may explain why the ventral dentate gyrus is frequently involved in pathological phenomena.

Calretinin mRNA and immunoreactivity in the medullary reticular formation of the rat: colocalization with glutamate receptors

Calretinin-positive cells were identified in the medullary reticular formation of the rat by both immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization histochemistry. In addition, double immunocytochemical labeling was used to examine the degree of colocalization of calretinin with GluR2/R3, GluR4 and GluR5-7 glutamate receptor subtypes. Results indicated regional variation in calretinin expression across reticular formation regions with the exception of the largest cells which were mostly calretinin-positive. Calretinin mRNA was particularly abundant in the parvocellular reticular nucleus. Most calretinin-immunoreactive cells also expressed at least one of the glutamate receptor subtypes examined with the exception of the smallest calretinin-positive cells of the parvocellular reticular formation which were generally not immunoreactive for any of the glutamate receptors examined. Calretinin immunoreactivity was colocalized with immunoreactivity for all three glutamate receptor subtypes examined in most of the large cells of the reticular formation. Immunoreactivity for the GluR4 antibody was least abundant in the reticular formation and GluR4 immunoreactive cells were least likely to co-express calretinin. These results suggest that calretinin and glutamate receptor antibodies may be used to identify specific subsets of reticular formation neurons.

Calbindin-D28K-immunoreactive cells and fibres in the human amygdaloid complex

The distribution of calbindin-D28k-immunoreactive cells and fibres in five human amygdalae was analysed from sections that had been stained immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody raised against calbindin-D28k. The highest density of calbindin-D28k-positive neurons were found in the anterior cortical, medial, posterior cortical and accessory basal nuclei, in the parvicellular division of the basal nucleus and in the amygdalohippocampal area. The lowest densities of immunopositive neurons were found in the paralaminar nucleus, in the periamygdaloid cortex (PAC1 and PACo) and in some of the intercalated nuclei. The deep nuclei (lateral, basal and accessory basal nuclei) contained a high density of calbindin-D28k-immunoreactive fibres and terminals. The cortical nuclei and the central nucleus were characterized by intense neuropil labelling. Morphologically, a large majority of the calbindin-D28k-immunoreactive neurons were aspiny or sparsely spiny and resembled inhibitory local circuit neurons. A small population of lightly-stained, pyramidal-shaped neurons was also observed. In most of the amygdaloid nuclei, calbindin-D28k-immunoreactive fibres travelled close to each other and formed bundles, which suggests that some of the immunostained neurons were double-bouquet cells. In the paralaminar nucleus, the calbindin-D28k-immunoreactive axons formed tortuous plexus (100-200 microns in diameter) that surrounded several unstained somata. This study provides baseline information on the morphology and distribution of calcium-binding protein-containing inhibitory cells and fibres immunoreactive for calbindin-D28k in the human amygdaloid complex. This information can be used in future studies on the pathogenesis of diseases known to damage the amygdala, such as Alzheimer's disease and temporal lobe epilepsy.

Dopaminergic and GABAergic interneurons of the olfactory bulb are derived from the neonatal subventricular zone

Earlier studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that a discrete region of the anterior part of the neonatal subventricular zone (SVZa) contains exclusively neuronal progenitor cells. The descendants of the SVZa progenitor cells are destined for the granule cell and glomerular layers of the olfactory bulb, where they differentiate into granule and periglomerular cells, the interneurons of the olfactory bulb, respectively. In the present set of experiments we examined the neurotransmitter phenotype of the SVZa-derived cells. In order to label SVZa-derived cells, the cell proliferation marker bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected into the SVZa of postnatal day 2 (P2) rats. After 3 weeks, by which time most of the SVZa-derived cells have migrated to their final destination in the bulb, the animals were perfused and their brains processed for immunohistochemistry. To identify the neurotransmitter phenotype of the SVZa-derived cells, sagittal sections of the forebrain, including the olfactory bulb, were double-labeled with an antibody to BrdU in conjunction with an antibody to gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) or tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate limiting enzyme in the synthesis of dopamine. Using simultaneous indirect immunofluorescence to detect the presence of single- and double-labeled cells, we found that 59% and 51% of the BrdU-positive cells were immunoreactive for GABA in the granule cell and glomerular layers, respectively. In addition, 10% of the BrdU-positive periglomerular cells were immunoreactive for TH. The presence of double-labeled (BrdU-positive/GABA-positive and BrdU-positive/TH-positive) cells in the olfactory bulb, demonstrates that the SVZa is a source of the GABAergic and dopaminergic interneurons of the olfactory bulb during postnatal development.

Striatal interneurons in Huntington's disease: selective increase in the density of calretinin-immunoreactive medium-sized neurons

The marked atrophy of the striatum seen in Huntington's disease (HD) is largely due to a massive neuronal loss that affects the striatal projection neurons more severely than the local circuit neurons. We recently reported the existence of a new class of interneurons characterized by their immunoreactivity for the calcium-binding protein calretinin in the human striatum. In the present immunohistochemical study, we compared the distribution and relative density of the calretinin-expressing interneurons in the striata of four normal individuals and four patients with HD (grade 1 to 3). The population of calretinin-containing interneurons comprised (a) a small subset of large (17- to 44-microns), multipolar neurons with five to seven long, aspiny, and highly branched dendrites and (b) a large number of medium-sized (8- to 18-microns), round-to-oval neurons with two to three long, varicose, and poorly branched dendrites. Both types of chemospecific neurons occurred throughout the striatum in all specimens examined, but the density of the medium-sized neurons was much higher in patients with HD than in controls. A quantitative analysis showed a significant (p < 0.01) twofold increase in the density of the striatal medium-sized neurons and a similar decrease in the density of the large neurons in patients with HD compared with controls. This differential effect on the densities of the two types of interneurons suggests that calretinin may protect the medium-sized but not the large neurons against neurodegeneration in HD.

Calcium-binding proteins immunoreactivity in the human subcortical and cortical visual structures

The distribution of neurons and fibers immunoreactive (ir) to the three calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin (PV), calbindin D-28k (CB), and calretinin (CR) was studied in the human lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), lateral inferior pulvinar, and optic radiation, and related to that in the visual cortex. In the LGN, PV, CR, and CB immunoreactivity was present in all laminae, slightly stronger in the magnocellular than in the parvocellular laminae for CB and CR. PV-ir puncta, representing transversally cut axons, and CR-ir fibers were revealed within the laminae and interlaminar zones, and just beyond the outer border of lamina 6 in the geniculate capsule. In the optic radiation both PV- and CR-immunoreactive neurons, puncta, and fibers were present. CB immunoreactivity was revealed in neurons of all laminae of the lateral geniculate nucleus, including S lamina and interlaminar zones. There were hardly any CB-ir puncta or fibers in the laminae, interlaminar zones, geniculate capsule, or optic radiation. In the lateral inferior pulvinar, immunoreactive neurons for the three calcium-binding proteins were present in smaller number than in the LGN, as well as PV-ir puncta and CR-ir fibers within the nucleus and in the pulvinar capsule. In the white matter underlying area 17, fibers intermingled with a few scattered neurons were stained for both PV and CR, but very rarely for CB. These fibers stopped at the limit between areas 17 and 18. Area 17 showed a dense plexus of PV-ir puncta and neurons in the thalamo-receptive layer IV and CR-ir puncta and neurons both in the superficial layers I-II, IIIC, and in layer VA. Cajal-Retzius CR-ir neurons were present in layer I. CB-ir puncta were almost confined to layer I-III and CB-ir neurons to layer II. Finally the superior colliculus exhibited mostly populations of PV and CR pyramidal-like immunoreactive neurons, mainly in the intermediate tier. These data suggest that in the visual thalamus most calcium-binding protein immunoreactive neurons project to the visual cortex, while in the superior colliculus a smaller immunoreactive population represent projection neurons.

Distribution of calretinin-immunoreactive septal axons in the normal and deafferented medial habenula of adult rats

To characterize the neural circuitry and plasticity of the septohabenular pathway, the present study analyzes the distribution of calretinin-immunoreactive fibers within the normal and deafferented medial habenula (MHb) at the light and ultrastructural levels. In the adult rat, a dense plexus of calretinin-positive fibers was found throughout the entire MHb neuropil; these immunoreactive terminals formed asymmetric synaptic contacts with unstained dendritic profiles. Calretinin-positive axons that innervate the MHb originated from neurons of the ipsilateral posterior septum, specifically those of the nucleus septofimbrialis and the nucleus triangularis. Unilateral deafferentation of the MHb resulted in the complete loss of calretinin-immunostained fibers within the ipsilateral MHb after 7 days; no reduction was apparent on the contralateral side. Four weeks after unilateral MHb deafferentation, new calretinin-immunoreactive fibers were found confined to the caudal regions of the MHb, these axons again formed asymmetrical contacts with unstained dendritic profiles. No calretinin-positive axons, however, were found within the MHb at 4 weeks following bilateral deafferentation, thus suggesting that the source of these new fibers within the long-term deafferented MHb arises from the contralateral septal neurons. Supporting this idea, injections of biotinylated dextran amine into the 4-week deafferented MHb resulted in retrogradely labeled somata observed in the contralateral posterior septum. These data reveal that septal projections to the MHb, which are normally ipsilateral, respond to a unilateral deafferentation by extending contralateral fibers that cross the midline at the habenular commissure and reinnervate the caudal regions of the nucleus.

The expression of calretinin in transfected PC12 cells provides no protection against Ca(2+)-overload or trophic factor deprivation

To address the question whether calretinin (CR) may protect cells against Ca2+ overload or trophic factor deprivation, PC12 cells were transfected with plasmids containing a CR coding region under control of a cytomegalovirus promoter. Nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment induced differentiation, increased transfection efficiency (at least 10-fold) and activated the CR gene (as found by RNase protection method and immunohistochemistry). Exogenous CR expression was identified either in living cells by fluorescence of green fluorescent protein (when the CR coding region was fused to this protein) or in fixed cells by CR immunoreactivity. Undifferentiated and NGF-differentiated populations of transfected cells were incubated in the presence of a Ca(2+)-ionophore or in media deprived of serum or NGF. Expression of exogenous CR in undifferentiated or NGF-treated cells (due to transfection) or endogenous CR (due to gene activation by NGF) did not render PC12 cells more resistant to insults such as Ca(2+)-overload and trophic factor deprivation.

Sparing of striatal neurons coexpressing calretinin and substance P (NK1) receptor in Huntington's disease

Immunohistochemical studies of the striatum in normal human subjects with a double-antigen localization method have revealed the presence of large and medium-sized aspiny neurons displaying immunoreactivity for both the calcium-binding protein calretinin and substance P (neurokinin-1) receptor. These large and medium-sized cells from two distinct classes of striatal interneurons, which together represent less than 3% of the total neuronal population of the human striatum. Observations made in four cases of Huntington's disease revealed that such doubly labeled interneurons are still present in the striatum of these patients, despite the marked atrophy of the structure. This study provides the first evidence for the existence of interneurons containing calretinin and expressing tachykinin receptors in the human striatum. It also demonstrates the selective sparing of these chemospecific striatal neurons in Huntington's disease.

Distribution of neuronal populations containing neurofilament protein and calcium-binding proteins in the canine neocortex: regional analysis and cell typology

Neurophysiological experiments in carnivores have revealed the existence of a large number of cortical regions and an organization of sensory systems quite similar to that found in primates. However, the cyto- and chemoarchitecture of the cerebral cortex is relatively poorly known in carnivores. We analyzed the distribution and typology of classes of neurons containing neurofilament protein or the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin, and calretinin in six neocortical regions of the dog. In all these areas, neurofilament protein was present in a subpopulation of medium-to-large size pyramidal neurons predominantly distributed in layers III and V. Parvalbumin was present in a large population of morphologically diverse interneurons. Small ovoid and multipolar neurons were observed throughout the cortical layers, but predominated in layers II and IV. Layers III and V-VI were characterized by the presence of larger and intensely immunoreactive neurons with bitufted or multipolar morphology, and layers V-VI also contained large multipolar neurons. Calbindin was observed in small round and multipolar interneurons in layer II, and typical double bouquet cells in layer III. Layers IV-VI contained isolated double bouquet cells and large multipolar neurons. A few calbindin-immunoreactive pyramidal neurons were also observed in layer V. Calretinin was localized in bipolar and double bouquet cells in layers II and upper III. The lower part of layer III and layers IV-VI contained rare calretinin-immunoreactive neurons. In some areas, layer III displayed a few large isolated multipolar neurons and pyramidal neurons containing calretinin. In addition, the results show that there is a substantial degree of variability in the distribution of these proteins among cortical regions, and that although they are found in morphologically comparable neuronal types in dog, monkeys, and humans, many differences exist in their regional distribution patterns between carnivores and primates.

Calcium-binding proteins in primate basal ganglia

This paper describes the distribution of the calcium-binding proteins calbindin-D28k. Parvalbumin and calretinin in primate basal ganglia. The data derive from immunocytochemical studies undertaken in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) and in normal human individuals. In the striatum, calbindin labels medium-sized spiny projection neurons whereas parvalbumin and calretinin mark two separate classes of aspiny interneurons. The striatal matrix compartment is markedly enriched with calbindin while striatal patches (striosomes) display a calretinin-rich neuropil. In the pallidum, virtually all neurons contain parvalbumin but none express calbindin. Calretinin occurs only in a small subpopulation of both large and small pallidal neurons. In the subthalamic nucleus, there exists a multitude of parvalbumun-positive cells and fibers but the number of calretinin and calbindin-positive neuronal elements is small. In the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area complex, calbindin and calretinin occur principally in dopaminergic neurons of the dorsal tier of the pars compacta and in those of the ventral tegmental area. Parvalbumin is strictly confined to the GABAergic neurons of the pars reticulata and lateralis. Calbindin-rich fibers abound in the pars reticulata and lateralis, while calretinin-positive axons are confined to the pars compacta. These results indicate that calbindin and parvalbumin are distributed according to a strikingly complementary pattern in primate basal ganglia. Calretinin is less ubiquitous but occurs in all basal ganglia components where it labels distinct subsets of neurons. Such highly specific patterns of distribution indicate that calbindin, parvalbumin and calretinin may work in synergy within primate basal ganglia.

Distribution of neurofilament protein and calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin, and calretinin in the canine hippocampus

Neurofilament protein and calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin, and calretinin are present in morphologically distinct neuronal subpopulations in the mammalian cerebral cortex. Immunohistochemical studies of the hippocampal formation and neocortex have demonstrated that while neurofilament protein and calbindin are localized in subsets of pyramidal neurons, the three calcium-binding proteins are useful markers to differentiate non-overlapping populations of interneurons. To date, most studies have been performed in rodents and primates. In the present analysis, we analyzed the distribution of these proteins in the canine hippocampus. Neurofilament protein was present in large multipolar neurons in the hilus and in pyramidal neurons in the CA3 field, whereas pyramidal neurons in the CA1 field and subiculum were less intensely immunoreactive. Parvalbumin immunoreactivity was observed in large multipolar neurons in the hilus and throughout the CA3-CA1 fields, in a few pyramidal-shaped neurons in the CA1 field and subiculum, and had a distinct neuropil staining pattern in the granule cell layer and stratum pyramidale of the Ammon's horn. Calbindin immunoreactivity displayed a strong labeling of the granule cells and mossy fibers and was also observed in a population of moderately immunoreactive neurons in the CA1 field and subiculum. Calretinin immunoreactivity was relatively weaker overall. The inner molecular layer in the dentate gyrus had a distinct band of labeling, the stratum lacunosum/moleculare contained a punctate neuropil staining, and there were a few small multipolar neurons in the hilus, CA3-CA1 fields, and subiculum. Comparison of the staining patterns observed in the dog hippocampus with those in human, macaque monkeys and rats revealed that although there are some subregional differences among these taxa, the dog may constitute a valuable large animal model for the study of certain neurological conditions that affect humans, in spite of the phylogenetic distance between carnivores and primates.

Interneurons containing calretinin are specialized to control other interneurons in the rat hippocampus

Spine-free calretinin-immunoreactive (CR-IR) interneurons form a subpopulation of GABAergic cells in the rat hippocampus. A characteristic feature of these cells--located in all areas and layers--is the frequent dendro-dendritic and axo-dendritic contacts they form with each other. In this study we examined in detail the connectivity of these neurons by reconstructing their dendritic and axonal arbor and by identifying their postsynaptic targets. Radially running dendrites of CR-IR cells, located in different layers, intermingled into long braids. An average cell was in contact with dendrites of three to seven other CR-IR cells. Reconstruction of the dendritic trees from six consecutive sections demonstrated that at least 15 cells may participate in a dendro-dendritically connected cluster. Electron microscopical examination revealed that regularly spaced zonula adherentia connect the touching dendrites. The postsynaptic targets of CR-IR neurons have been examined using postembedding immunogold staining for GABA. CR-containing GABA-immunoreactive axons of local origin formed multiple symmetrical synaptic contacts (two to five) exclusively on GABAergic dendrites (CR-negative as well as CR-positive). Two to 10 CR-IR axons may converge onto a single CR-IR neuron, often from cells belonging to the same dendro-dendritically connected cluster. Using double immunocytochemistry, CR-IR cells were shown to heavily innervate calbindin D28k-containing interneurons and VIP-containing basket cells but avoided the parvalbumin-containing basket and axo-axonic cells. The unique connectivity of CR-IR cells may enable them to play a crucial role in the generation of synchronous, rhythmic hippocampal activity by controlling other interneurons terminating on different dendritic and somatic compartments of principal cells.

Colocalization of calbindin D-28k, calretinin, and GABA immunoreactivities in neurons of the human temporal cortex

The calcium-binding proteins calbindin D-28k (CalB) and calretinin (CalR) have been shown to be useful markers of neuronal subpopulations located mainly in layers II-III of the neocortex of a variety of species, including human. Double labeling immunocytochemical studies of CalB, CalR, and GABA in experimental animals have shown that CalB and CalR are present in separate subpopulations of neurons. However, there are no studies of colocalization of these calcium-binding proteins and GABA in the human neocortex. The principal goal of the present work was to investigate the degree of colocalization of these substances in layers II-III of the human temporal neocortex, using a postembedding immunocytochemical method. The patterns of staining for CalB, CalR, and GABA in the human cortex were similar to those found in monkey neocortex. However, the degree of colocalization for certain combinations was different from that reported in the monkey and other experimental animals. A relatively large proportion of CalB- and CalR-immunoreactive cells (approximately 71% and 74%, respectively) were found to be immunoreactive for GABA. However, the degree of colocalization of CalB with CalR was low (between 4% and 6%). Thus, our quantitative and qualitative data suggest that these calcium-binding proteins are present in similar cortical circuits in all primates, but that in the human neocortex, there might be additional GABAergic and perhaps also non-GABAergic interneurons with unique chemical characteristics.

Calretinin-immunoreactive cells and fibers in the human amygdaloid complex

Calretinin is a calcium-binding protein that colocalizes with GABA in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the rat and the monkey. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of calretinin-immunoreactive cells and fibers in the human amygdaloid complex. A conspicuous feature was the high density of calretinin neurons in the human amygdala. The highest densities of the calretinin-immunoreactive neurons were observed in the anterior cortical nucleus, accessory basal nucleus, amygdalohippocampal area, and in the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract. The paralaminar nucleus, central nucleus, medial nucleus, and the periamygdaloid cortex contained the lowest densities of calretinin neurons. In most of the amygdaloid areas, the calretinin cells had the appearance of aspiny or sparsely spiny local circuit neurons. However, in the amygdalohippocampal area, we found also densely spined dendrites. The cortical areas and the central nucleus were characterized by intense neuropil labeling, while the deep nuclei contained a high density of calretinin-immunoreactive fibers and terminals. Calretinin immunoreactivity was also found in the intra-amygdaloid fiber bundles, stria terminalis, and in the ventral amygdalofugal pathway. This suggests that in addition to the local circuit neurons, calretinin immunoreactivity is also located in neurons that connect the amygdaloid complex with the other brain areas. The distribution and morphological characteristics of calretinin-immunoreactive neurons differed from those of another calcium-binding protein, parvalbumin, in the human amygdala (Sorvari et al. [1995] J. Comp. Neurol. 360:185-212). This suggests that these two calcium-binding proteins are located in different populations of neurons.

Electron microscopic serial-sectioning/reconstruction study of parvalbumin-containing neurons in the external plexiform layer of the rat olfactory bulb

Neurons containing a calcium-binding protein parvalbumin in the external plexiform layer of the rat olfactory bulb were identified light microscopically with the pre-embedding immunocytochemistry and were subsequently analysed with the electron microscopic serial-sectioning and three-dimensional reconstructions. In the present study we chose several different types of parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons identified light microscopically as Van Gehuchten cell type, superficial short-axon cell type and multipolar cell type. Parvalbumin-immunoreactive somata were similar to one another in their ultrastructural characteristics, showing nuclear indentations, moderately developed Golgi apparatus and abundant mitochondria; these structural features appeared to resemble those of the short axon cells around the glomeruli and in the granule cell layer reported in previous electron microscopic studies. All neurons analysed in the present study made symmetrical synapses on to dendrites and somata of presumed mitral/tufted cells and received asymmetrical synapses from them, and occasionally formed reciprocal synapses with them. On the parvalbumin-immunoreactive processes, the asymmetrical synapses nearly equalled the symmetrical ones in number and about 30-50% of them were identified as reciprocal pairs. In contrast, no presynaptic sites were observed on parvalbumin-immunoreactive somata, and thick portions (more than approximately 2 microns in diameter) of the proximal dendrites, where they were occasionally postsynaptic in some asymmetrical and symmetrical synapses from parvalbumin-immunonegative profiles. Characteristically, parvalbumin-immunoreactive process frequently make direct contacts with one another; processes regarded light microscopically as arising from a soma or a dendrite or parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons were sometimes revealed to be separate but directly contacting processes with electron microscopic examinations. Although puncta adherentia were occasionally observed between these contact sites, so far neither gap junctions nor chemical synapses were observed. Until now, it has been believed that in the external plexiform layer only granule cells form reciprocal synapses with mitral/tufted cells. However, the present study clearly demonstrates that interneurons different from granule cells, namely GABAergic neurons containing a calcium-binding protein parvalbumin, also make reciprocal synapses with mitral/tufted cells in the external plexiform layer. Therefore, neuronal processes making reciprocal synapses with mitral/tufted cells in the external plexiform layer cannot be determined a priori as granule cell processes.

Calretinin immunoreactivity in the thalamus of the squirrel monkey

The distribution of the calcium-binding protein, calretinin, in the thalamus of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) was studied with immunohistochemical methods. Calretinin was found to be heterogeneously distributed in the primate thalamus and to occur only in specific neuronal populations of certain thalamic nuclei. Neuronal cells and fibers in midline nuclei and their dorsolateral extension, which includes the parataenial and central superior lateral nuclei, displayed the most intense calretinin immunoreactivity. The immunoreactivity for cells and fibers in the intralaminar nuclei was moderate rostrally but very weak caudally. The centre mèdian nucleus, together with the medial habenular nucleus, were virtually devoid of calretinine immunostaining. The mediodorsal nucleus displayed a markedly heterogeneous staining, with numerous clusters of labeled cells and fibers in its central parvicellular part. Cell and fiber immunoreactivity ranged from moderate to high in the nuclei of the anterior and lateral groups, but was very weak in the nuclei of the ventral and posterior groups. There was a small to moderate number of heterogeneously distributed calretinin-immunoreactive cells and fibers in the lateral and medial geniculate bodies, as well as in the reticular nucleus. The present study provides the first evidence for the existence of calretinin in primate thalamus, where this protein is distributed according to a highly heterogeneous pattern. This specific pattern of distribution suggests that calretlnin may play a role that is complementary to those of the other calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin and calbindin D-28k in the thalamus of primates.

Calretinin is largely localized to a unique population of striatal interneurons in rats

Previous studies have reported the presence of the calcium binding protein calretinin in neurons in the striatal part of the basal ganglia in rats and primates. In the present study, immunofluorescence double-labeling techniques and immunofluorescence combined with retrograde labeling were used in rats to determine whether calretinin is found in any of the known types of striatal neurons. The results showed that a small fraction of the calretinin-containing neurons (< 10%) contain parvalbumin, but none of the calretinin-containing striatal neurons contained markers for the other two major types of striatal interneurons (i.e., choline acetyltransferase-containing cholinergic neurons and somatostatin-containing neurons). Additionally, calretinin was not found in projection neurons, using either calbindin or DARPP32 as immunofluorescent markers of striatal projections neurons in general, or using retrograde labeling to specifically identify either striatonigral or striatopallidal neurons. Thus, calretinin appears to be largely found in a unique population of striatal interneurons in rats. This population appears to be about one third the abundance of any of the previously identified populations of striatal interneurons.

Calretinin as a marker of specific neuronal subsets in primate substantia nigra and subthalamic nucleus

Neurons immunoreactive for the calcium-binding protein calretinin (CR) were visualized in the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta (SNc), reticulata (SNr) and lateralis (SNl), the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of squirrel monkeys. The density of CR perikarya was high in VTA, moderate in SNc, low in SNr/SNl, and very low in STN. The SNc/VTA complex also displayed a CR-rich neuropil. Some CR perikarya and fibers occurred in specific sectors of STN. These data suggest that CR may play a role in specific neuronal subpopulations in all components of primate basal ganglia.

Rat brain oligodendrocytes do not interact selectively with axons expressing different calcium-binding proteins

A single oligodendrocyte may endow ten to twenty vicinal axons with internodal segments, but its radial domain is neither exclusive of processes from other like cells nor are all nerve fibres within this zone myelinated. Whether oligodendrocytes are able to discriminate between axons on the basis of chemical or electrophysiological differences, or whether the tactic response is random, has yet to be established. In order to shed some light on this process, we investigated the ensheathment, by single oligodendrocytes, of axons distinguished on the basis of their calcium-binding protein complexion. Rat brain oligodendrocytes were visualized either with the Rip-antibody or by intracellular injection of Lucifer Yellow; subclasses of axons were immunolabelled with antibodies against one of the two calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin or calretinin. Individual oligodendrocytes did not exhibit exclusivity with respect to their preferment for axons containing calcium-binding proteins, associations with both non-immunoreactive, as well as with parvalbumin- or calretinin-positive ones, being encountered.

Differential effects of excitatory amino acids on mesencephalic neurons expressing either calretinin or tyrosine hydroxylase in primary cultures

In mesencephalic primary cultures derived from E14 rat embryos, calretinin- and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons comprised 2% and 5% of the total cell population, respectively, at 6-7 days in vitro. The number of calretinin-immunoreactive neurons was unchanged after a 12- or 24-h exposure to 500 microM kainic acid (KA), but a 50% cell loss was detected after a 48-h exposure to KA. Tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons demonstrated a 50% and 67% cell loss at 24- and 48-h exposures to 500 microM KA. A 500 microM N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) incubation for 24 h had no effect on calretinin-immunoreactive cell number, but did significantly reduce tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cell numbers by 26%. In tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells, exposure to KA appeared to stimulate the retraction of the neuritic tree and to cause somatic swelling. In contrast, calretinin-immunoreactive neurons developed larger and more complex neuritic trees after a 24-h exposure to 500 microM KA but not NMDA. Immunohistochemical colocalization studies revealed that all tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive and the majority of calretinin-immunoreactive neurons expressed the glutamate receptor subunits GluR2-R3. Very low levels of NMDAR1 receptor subunits were detected on cells in this culture and GluR4 receptor subunits were not detectable. Our experiments showed that glutamate receptors present in both calretinin- and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells were functional, since phosphorylated cAMP/Ca2+ response element-binding protein levels were increased in both cell types after 10 or 30 min exposures to 500 microM KA. The present results indicate that in the mesencephalic cultures tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells are more vulnerable to KA excitotoxicity than calretinin-immunoreactive neurons.

A light and electron microscopic study of NADPH-diaphorase-, calretinin- and parvalbumin-containing neurons in the rat nucleus accumbens

The rat nucleus accumbens contains medium-sized, spiny projection neurons and intrinsic, local circuit neurons, or interneurons. Sub-classes of interneurons, revealed by calretinin (CR) or parvalbumin (PV) immunoreactivity or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase histochemistry, were compared in the nucleus accumbens core, shell and rostral pole. CR, PV and NADPH-diaphorase-containing neurons are shown to form three non-co-localising populations in these three areas. No significant differences in neuronal population densities were found between the subterritories. NADPH-diaphorase-containing neurons could be further separated morphologically into three sub-groups, but CR- and PV-immunoreactive neurons form homogeneous populations. Ultrastructurally, NADPH-diaphorase-, CR- and PV-containing neurons in the nucleus accumbens all possess nuclear indentations. These are deeper and fewer in neurons immunoreactive for PV than in CR- and NADPH-diaphorase-containing neurons. CR-immunoreactive boutons form asymmetrical and symmetrical synaptic specialisations on spines, dendrites and somata, while PV-immunoreactive boutons make only symmetrical synaptic specialisations. Both CR- and PV-immunoreactive boutons form symmetrical synaptic specialisations with medium-sized spiny neurons and contact other CR- and PV-immunoreactive somata, respectively. A novel non-carcinogenic substrate for the peroxidase reaction (Vector Slate Grey, SG) was found to be characteristically electron-dense and may be distinguishable from the diaminobenzidine reaction product. We conclude that the three markers used in this study are localised in distinct populations of nucleus accumbens interneurons. Our studies of their synaptic connections contribute to an increased understanding of the intrinsic circuitry of this area.

Calretinin-containing pathways in the rat forebrain

The anatomy of pathways containing the calcium binding protein calretinin was investigated in the forebrain of the rat, using a combination of immunohistochemical and retrograde tract tracing techniques. Numerous well identified pathways do contain calretinin, whereas others do not. Pathways arising from the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area, the dorsal raphe, the lateral mammillary nucleus, the supramammillary nucleus, the triangular septal and septo-fimbrial nuclei, several thalamic nuclei, the parabrachial nucleus, the peripeduncular nucleus, the medial amygdala contain at least some calretinin. The proportion of projection neurons containing calretinin ranged from 2% (dorsal raphe to caudate) to about 75% (triangular septal nucleus to habenula, medial amygdala to the ventromedial hypothalamus). More than 50% of the nigro-striatal neurons contain calretinin immunoreactivity. In contrast, other pathways do not contain any calretinin immunoreactivity (for instance the pathways arising from cerebral cortex, locus coeruleus, cholinergic forebrain nuclei), although calretinin may be present in local neurons in these structures. The present study demonstrates that calretinin is not associated specifically with projection neurons or local neurons, identified transmitter systems or functionally related pathways in the forebrain of the rat.

Developmental changes in calretinin expression in GABAergic and nonGABAergic neurons in monkey striate cortex

The development of the calcium-binding protein calretinin (CaR) and its co-localization with GABA was studied in the striate cortex of Macaca monkeys from fetal day (Fd) 45 to adult. At Fd45, early neurons resembling Cajal-Retzius cells are stained in the marginal zone (MZ). At Fd55 the MZ is filled with CaR+ Cajal-Retzius cells and their processes, and scattered CaR+ cells are also found in deep cortical plate (CP), intermediate zone (IZ), and subventricular zone (SVZ). At Fd66, a band of CaR+ fibers appears in the IZ, corresponding to the location of the geniculocortical axons. This fiber band labels heavily until Fd130 but then ceases to be immunoreactive by postnatal (P) 16 weeks. At Fd85-101, the number of CaR+ cells in the CP, SVZ, and ventricular zone (VZ) reaches its highest cell density. After Fd130, CaR+ cells are concentrated in layer II and upper layer III, and this distribution changes little into adulthood. After mid-gestation, there is a progressive loss of CaR+ cell bodies and processes in the MZ, and these are rare in the adult cortex. Just before birth, a weakly stained CaR+ cell band appears in layer IVA at the border between layer IVA and IVB, but this band disappears immediately after birth. Another CaR+ cell band appears transiently in upper layer V just below the border with layers IV at P6 months. These results suggest that CaR is expressed early in fetal development in the cell populations that are immunoreactive for CaR in the adult. However, developmental events related to cortical maturation during late prenatal and early postnatal stages result in transient expression of CaR in neurons that are not immunoreactive for CaR in the adult. CaR-immunoreactivity is colocalized with GABA in almost all CaR+ cells with the exception of Cajal-Retzius cells in the MZ and some large cells observed at Fd70-101 in the VZ. The band of CaR+ fibers in the IZ is GABA-. At Fd90, almost all (> 96%) CaR+ cells are GABA+ in the CP and the first developed layers V/VI. This percentage declines later, so that on average 80% of CaR+ cells are GABA+ in adult cortex. At Fd135, 53% of GABA+ neurons located in layers II/III are CaR+; this percentage declines to 37% in the adult. These double-label patterns suggest that early in fetal development the majority of GABA+ cells stain for CaR and that expression of CaR may be related to the migration of these neurons into the cortical plate. Once they attain their final position in the cortex many GABA+ cells loose CaR-immunoreactivity, so that in postnatal life only a minority of GABA+ neurons contain this calcium-binding protein.

Striatal interneurones: chemical, physiological and morphological characterization

The neostriatum is the largest component of the basal ganglia, and the main recipient of afferents to the basal ganglia from the cerebral cortex and thalamus. Studies of the cellular organization of the neostriatum have focused upon the spiny projection neurones, which represent the vast majority of neurones, but the identity and functions of interneurones in this structure have remained enigmatic despite decades of study. Recently, the discovery of cytochemical markers that are specific for each of the major classes of striatal interneurones, and the combination of this with intracellular recording and staining, has revealed the identities of interneurones and some of their functional characteristics in a way that could not have been imagined by the classical morphologists. These methods also suggest some possible modes of action of interneurones in the neostriatal circuitry.

Development of calretinin immunoreactivity in the neocortex of the rat

The prenatal and postnatal development of calretinin (CR)-containing elements in the neocortex of the rat was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. CR immunoreactivity in the cortical anlage appeared early at embryonic day 14 (E14), with CR-positive neurons located in the primitive plexiform layer and in the emerging subplate and marginal zones. At later prenatal and early postnatal stages, these two layers showed the highest CR immunostaining in the cortex, and large numbers of cell bodies and fibers were immunostained. From postnatal day 3 (P3) onwards, CR immunostaining disappeared progressively from the subplate-layer VIb and the marginal zone-layer I, so that very few cells remained stained in these layers in the adult. In the cortical plate and prospective layers VIa to II-III, CR-positive neurons were seen at prenatal stages, their numbers increasing markedly during the first postnatal week. Most neurons showed undifferentiated nonpyramidal shapes, and matured during the second and third postnatal weeks, when the adult pattern of CR immunostaining was achieved. In addition, some pyramidal-like neurons in the infragranular layers and in layer II-III transiently expressed CR during the postnatal period, most notably between P3 and P12. Colocalization experiments performed at P0-P3 with antibodies against the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) showed that most nonpyramidal CR-positive neurons in the derivates of the cortical plate were also GABAergic during development. In contrast, large numbers of CR-containing neurons in the subplate and marginal zone were GABA-negative. The present results show that in addition to recording the early development of a subset of nonpyramidal neurons, CR is transiently expressed in certain GABA-negative populations of the subplate and marginal zone, and most likely in pyramidal neurons.

Calretinin immunoreactive structures in the human hippocampal formation

The calcium-binding protein calretinin is present in an intrinsic GABAergic and an extrinsic non-GABAergic system in the rat and monkey hippocampal formation. Important species differences have been noted in hippocampal cell types immunostained for calretinin and the termination pattern of calretinin containing hypothalamic afferents in the hippocampus. In the present study, calretinin-containing neurons were visualized using immunocytochemistry in the human hippocampal formation of individuals which showed no significant neuropathological alterations. Calretinin-immunoreactivity was present exclusively in non-granule cells of the dentate gyrus and in non-pyramidal cells of Ammon's horn. Calretinin-positive neurons were found most frequently in the hilus of the fascia dentata and in strata radiatum and lacunosum-moleculare of CA1, whereas neurons in CA2 and CA3 were rarely immunostained. The majority of calretinin-immunoreactive neurons were small, bipolar or fusiform neurons. The dendritic trees of the calretinin-positive neurons were, for the most part, parallel to the dendrites of the principal cells. In the hilus, however, we observed cells with dendrites restricted to the hilar area. These dendrites were parallel to the granule cell layer. In the stratum lacunosum-moleculare, neurons with dendrites oriented parallel to the hippocampal fissure were frequently detected. In general, dendrites were smooth or sparsely spiny, displaying small conventional spines. The axons usually emerged from the proximal dendrite and could be followed over long distances. Axons were thin, had small varicosities and displayed only few collaterals which branched relatively far away from the cell body. Distinct bands of darkly stained calretinin-positive fibers occupied the innermost portion of the dentate molecular layer and the pyramidal cell layer of CA2. This distribution of calretinin-immunoreactive structures in the human hippocampus is similar to that observed in other primates but differs from that described in lower mammals, i.e., the rat. Our findings suggest that primates may share a common hippocampal calretinin-containing system, presumably both the intrinsic GABAergic and the extrinsic hypothalamic non-GABAergic components.

Compartmental organization of calretinin in the rat striatum

The present study examined the compartmental distribution of a calcium-binding protein, calretinin, in the rat striatum. Calretinin-immunoreactive cells were homogeneously scattered throughout the striatum, but calretinin-immunoreactive fibers were clustered as patches in the medial, central and ventral caudoputamen and in the lateral nucleus accumbens. These patches corresponded to striosomes, identified by immunostaining for calbindin-D28 K in adjacent sections. In the medial nucleus accumbens, calretinin-immunoreactive fibers showed diffuse distribution with occasional islands of calretinin-poor zones. These islands contained tightly packed, Nissl-stained cells, which have been previously shown to correspond to mu-opiate receptor-rich patches. Calretinin-positive fibers fill striosomes/patches in the caudoputamen and in the lateral nucleus accumbens and avoid them in the medial nucleus accumbens.

Calretinin-immunoreactive neurons in the normal human temporal cortex and in Alzheimer's disease

Calretinin-containing neurons (CR) were visualized by immunocytochemistry in the human temporal cortex. The morphology of calretinin-positive neurons ranged from bipolar, bitufted, fusiform to double bouquet cells, whose long axis was parallel to the radial axis of the cortex. Calretinin-immunoreactive cells were more abundant in layers II, III and less frequent in layer VI and white matter. In layer I, large horizontal neurons resembling Cajal-Retzius cells were observed. Layers IV and V contained few labeled cells. The CR-immunoreactive neuropil was abundant, especially in supragranular layers. However, the most prominent feature of the pattern of calretinin staining was the presence of long, vertically oriented bundles of calretinin-immunoreactive processes. These bundles formed a widespread, regular columnar system descending throughout layers II to VI. Despite the virtually identical morphological features of CR-immunoreactive neurons and certain calbindin-immunoreactive neurons, colocalization studies for both antibodies against calretinin and calbindin, revealed little coexistence (in supragranular layers) or none (in infragranular layers). Thus, double bouquet cells could be considered as forming a chemically heterogeneous neuronal population. In addition, four brains from patients with Alzheimer's disease were immunostained for calretinin. No major differences from normal brains were found; the distribution, morphology and the characteristic, vertically oriented bundles resembled those described in normal brains. These data suggest that these calcium-binding protein-containing interneurons are present in normal human brain and that they are resistant to degeneration in Alzheimer's disease.

Alteration in levels of expression of brain calbindin D-28k and calretinin mRNA in genetically epilepsy-prone rats

Variations in the concentration of free calcium in neurons is believed to play a major role in regulating neuronal excitability. Because calcium-binding proteins such as calbindin D-28k and calretinin help to regulate intracellular calcium, we investigated the possibility that the expression of these proteins may be affected in genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPRs). The mRNA levels of both proteins were compared across several brain regions using in situ hybridization histochemistry and Northern blot analysis with semiquantitation by optical density measures in autoradiograms from two GEPR strains that differ in the severity of audiogenic seizures (GEPR9 and GEPR3) and from Sprague-Dawley rats. Results revealed a lower level of expression in calbindin D-28k mRNA in the in the caudate putamen-accumbens nuclei in GEPR3 (-30%) and GEPR9 (-60%) relative to controls. The calbindin D-28k mRNA level was also lower in the reuniens nucleus of the thalamus (-41% in GEPR3; -34% in GEPR9). The calretinin mRNA level was lower in the substantia nigra compacta of both GEPR rat strains (-31% in GEPR3 and -34% in GEPR9 relative to controls). No changes in mRNA were detected in other brain regions expressing calbindin D-28k or calretinin mRNA. These results indicate that the expression of these related calcium-binding proteins is altered in the GEPRs before the induction of seizures. This initial defect could alter either the calcium-buffering capacity or regulation of calcium-mediated processes by these proteins and thus play a role in the molecular cascade of events inducing the genetic susceptibility to, and the generalization of, seizures in these rat strains.

Calbindin D-28k immunoreactivity in the rat accessory olfactory bulb

The distribution pattern and the morphology of calbindin D-28k-immunoreactive neurons were studied in the accessory olfactory bulb of the rat using a monoclonal antibody and the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase method. Positive neurons were observed in all layers but the vomeronasal nerve layer. Scarce mono-dendritic periglomerular neurons were calbindin D-28k-immunoreactive. Different morphological types of short-axon cells were calbindin D-28k-immunostained, with different degrees of intensity, in the boundary between the internal and external plexiform layer. In addition, deep short-axon cells located in the granule cell layer were calbindin D-28k-immunopositive. By contrast, previous studies described all cells in the rat accessory olfactory bulb as calbindin D-28k-immunonegative. The staining pattern in the rat accessory olfactory bulb showed both similarities and differences with the distribution pattern of the same calcium-binding protein in the main olfactory bulb.

Developmental expression of parvalbumin mRNA in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the rat

Parvalbumin (PARV) belongs to the family of calcium-binding proteins bearing the EF hand domain. Immunocytochemical studies in the cerebral cortex have demonstrated that neurons containing PARV include two types of GABAergic interneurons, namely, basket and axo-axonic chandelier cells. The present study examines the onset and pattern of PARV mRNA expression during the development of rat neocortex and hippocampus by means of 'in situ' hybridization with an oligonucleotide probe corresponding to rat PARV cDNA. In animals aged P0-P6 no signal was detected above background in neocortex or hippocampus. At P8, a few cortical cells displayed a number of silver grains just above background levels. By P10 PARV mRNA-expressing cells in the neocortex were detected almost exclusively in layer V of somatosensory, frontal and cingulate cortices. At P12 PARV mRNA was mainly detected in layers IV, V and VIa. By P14 there was a marked overall increase in the entire neocortex, including layer II-III, both in the number of cells and in their intensity of labelling. Further maturation in the pattern of PARV mRNA concentration was observed between P16 and P21. In the hippocampus low hybridization was observed at P10-P12. In subsequent stages both the number of positive cells and the intensity of labelling increased steadily. No clear-cut radial gradients for the expression of PARV mRNA were observed in the hippocampal region. Our results show that the developmental radial gradient followed by PARV mRNA expression in the neocortex does not follow an 'inside-out' gradient, consistent with previous immunocytochemical findings. Taken together, these data indicate that the developmental sequence followed by the PARV protein directly reflects mRNA abundance and suggest that PARV mRNA expression correlates with the functional maturation of cortical interneurons.

Calretinin-immunoreactivity in mitral cells of the rat olfactory bulb

We addressed the question whether the projection neurons of the olfactory bulb, i.e. the mitral and tufted cells, are immunoreactive for the calcium-binding protein, calretinin. The following approaches were adopted: (1) light and electron microscopic calretinin-immunocytochemistry; (2) neuroanatomical tracing combined with calretinin-immunocytochemistry according to double-peroxidase and double-fluorescence protocols; (3) unilateral lesion of the olfactory bulb combined with calretinin-immunocytochemistry. The experiments were carried out in rats. Immunostaining of brain sections revealed weakly calretinin-immunopositive mitral cell bodies. Tufted cells were immunonegative. In contrast, fibers in the lateral olfactory tract were strongly immunopositive. Dense immunostaining was also present in a superficial band in layer I of the olfactory tubercle, piriform cortex, periamygdaloid cortex, and in the lateral entorhinal cortex. In electron microscopic preparations of these target areas we observed immunoreaction product in axons and axon terminals. The latter invariably formed asymmetrical synapses, mostly with dendritic spines. Injections of the neuroanatomical tracer biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) into the olfactory bulb produced labeled fibers which remained completely restricted to the superficial, calretinin-immunopositive band in layer I in the above-mentioned cortical forebrain areas. We noted colocalization of transported BDA and calretinin-immunoreactivity in mitral cells, in fibers in the lateral olfactory tract and in fibers in the piriform cortex. Olfactory bulb lesions produced depletion of calretinin-immunoreactivity in the lateral olfactory tract and the superficial band in the olfactory cortex-related areas. Together these data firmly indicate that mitral cells and their axons are calretinin-immunoreactive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Quadruple colocalization of calretinin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and substance P in fibers within the villi of the rat intestine

Double-labeling immunofluorescent histochemistry demonstrates that calretinin, a calcium-binding protein, coexists with calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and substance P in the fibers innervating the lamina propria of the rat intestinal villi. An acetylcholinesterase histochemical stain revealed that the majority of calretinin-containing cells in the myenteric ganglia were cholinergic and that about one half of the submucosal calretinin-containing cells colocalized with acetylcholinesterase. In situ hybridization studies confirmed the presence of calretinin mRNA in the dorsal root ganglia, and a ribonuclease protection assay verified the presence of calretinin message in the intestine. The coexistence of calretinin in calcitonin-gene-related-peptide-containing cells that also contained substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the dorsal root ganglia suggest that these ganglia are the source of the quadruple colocalization within the sensory fibers of the villi. Although the function of calretinin in these nerves is unknown, it is hypothesized that the coexistence of three potent vasodilatory peptides influences the uptake of metabolized food products within the vasculature of the villi.

Alternative splicing of calretinin mRNA leads to different forms of calretinin

cDNA clones for calretinin, a member of the troponin-C family of calcium-binding proteins, were isolated from a cDNA library of the human colon carcinoma cell line WiDr. Sequence analysis revealed two forms of alternatively spliced calretinin mRNAs encoding C-terminally truncated proteins. Exon 7 was either spliced to exon 9 (delta 8) or to exon 10 (delta 8,9); both resulted in a frame shift and a translational stop at the second codon of exon 9 (delta 8), or at codon 15 of exon 10 (delta 8,9), respectively. The presence of delta 8 and delta 8,9 calretinin mRNA in WiDr cells was confirmed using reverse-transcriptase PCR and sequence analysis of the amplicon, as well as by a ribonuclease protection assay. Co115/3 and three other human colon carcinoma cell lines were found, by reverse-transcriptase PCR to also contain delta 8,9 calretinin mRNA. The truncated proteins were able to bind calcium, as evidenced by a calcium blot of the delta 8 form (calretinin-20k) and delta 8,9 form (calretinin-22k) expressed in Escherichia coli. Immunohistochemical staining using an antiserum specific for the novel C-terminus of calretinin-22k confirmed its presence in WiDr, Co115/3 and three additional colon carcinoma cell lines. The fact that alternative splicing of calretinin was found in five different cell lines suggests that alternatively spliced calretinins fulfill a physiological function.

Localization of Ca(2+)-dependent conformational changes of calretinin by limited tryptic proteolysis

Calretinin is an EF-hand Ca(2+)-binding protein expressed predominantly in some neurons. We have found that the tryptic digestion pattern of rat recombinant calretinin depends on Ca2+ concentration as determined by SDS/PAGE, amino-acid-sequence analysis and electrospray-ionization MS. Ca(2+)-saturated calretinin was cleaved between amino acids 60 and 61 to yield two fragments, which accumulated during cleavage. Small amounts of the larger fragment (amino acid residues 61-271) were further cleaved from the C-terminal end. Ca(2+)-free calretinin was also cleaved between residues 60 and 61; however, under the latter conditions the fragment 61-271 was further cleaved from the N-terminal end. Native rat calretinin was cleaved by trypsin in a similar Ca(2+)-dependent fashion. All identified fragments of recombinant calretinin bound 45Ca2+ on nitrocellulose filters, although to a different extent. The 61-271 fragment was released by EGTA from an octyl-agarose column in a manner similar to intact calretinin, while fragment 61-233 was not eluted by EGTA. These observations show that there are trypsin cleavage sites in calretinin that are available regardless of Ca2+ binding, other sites that are completely protected against trypsin on Ca(2+)-binding and sites which become partially available on Ca(2+)-binding. Together these data show that calretinin changes its conformation on Ca2+ binding and identify the regions which are exposed in apo and Ca(2+)-bound form.

Parvalbumin- and calretinin-immunoreactive trigeminal neurons innervating the rat molar tooth pulp

Calcium-binding proteins and neuropeptides were examined in trigeminal neuronal cell bodies retrogradely labeled with Fast blue (FB) from the maxillary molar tooth pulp of the rat. FB-labeled cells were located in the maxillary division of the trigeminal ganglion. Approximately 30 and 50% of the labeled cells were immunoreactive for parvalbumin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), respectively. The coexpression of these substances was observed in 9.5% of FB-labeled cells. On the other hand, 2.4% of FB-labeled cells exhibited calretinin-immunoreactivity (CR-ir) and 20% tachykinin (TK)-ir. The coexpression of CR and TK was observed in 1.9% of FB-labeled cells, i.e., most of CR-ir FB-labeled neurons coexpressed TK-ir. An immuno-EM method revealed that all parvalbumin-ir nerve fibers in the root pulp were myelinated and that CGRP-ir nerve fibers were both myelinated (15%) and unmyelinated (85%). The present study indicated that primary nociceptors innervating the rat molar tooth pulp contained parvalbumin and CR and coexpressed these calcium-binding proteins and neuropeptides. It was suggested that peripheral axons of parvalbumin-ir tooth pulp primary neurons are all myelinated. Most peripheral CR-ir axons are probably unmyelinated because TK-ir myelinated axons have never been demonstrated in any peripheral organ.

Spindle neurons of the human anterior cingulate cortex

The human anterior cingulate cortex is distinguished by the presence of an unusual cell type, a large spindle neuron in layer Vb. This cell has been noted numerous times in the historical literature but has not been studied with modern neuroanatomic techniques. For instance, details regarding the neuronal class to which these cells belong and regarding their precise distribution along both ventrodorsal and anteroposterior axes of the cingulate gyrus are still lacking. In the present study, morphological features and the anatomic distribution of this cell type were studied using computer-assisted mapping and immunocytochemical techniques. Spindle neurons are restricted to the subfields of the anterior cingulate cortex (Brodmann's area 24), exhibiting a greater density in anterior portions of this area than in posterior portions, and tapering off in the transition zone between anterior and posterior cingulate cortex. Furthermore, a majority of the spindle cells at any level is located in subarea 24b on the gyral surface. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that the neurofilament protein triple was present in a large percentage of these neurons and that they did not contain calcium-binding proteins. Injections of the carbocyanine dye DiI into the cingulum bundle revealed that these cells are projection neurons. Finally, spindle cells were consistently affected in Alzheimer's disease cases, with an overall loss of about 60%. Taken together, these observations indicate that the spindle cells of the human cingulate cortex represent a morphological subpopulation of pyramidal neurons whose restricted distribution may be associated with functionally distinct areas.