Abstract
The colocalization of two calcium-binding proteins, parvalbumin (PV) and calbindin-D28k (CaB), which have been reported to be markers of specific subpopulations of neurons in the central nervous system, with the inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitter γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA) was investigated in neurons of laminae I–IV of the subnucleus caudalis of the rat spinal trigeminal nucleus by using post-embedding immunocytochemical methods. Cells immunoreactive for PV, CaB, and GABA were found in all four laminae of the subnucleus caudalis. A substantial proportion of PV-immunoreactive perikarya were also stained for GABA in laminae II and III (44.8% and 39.8%, respectively). However, the majority of PV-containing neurons in laminae I and IV (100% and 86%, respectively), as well as CaB-immunoreactive cells in all four laminae (98.4%), were GABA-negative. These results show that, in contrast to higher brain centers, PV-, CaB-, and GABA-immunoreactive perikarya represent significantly different populations of neurons in the subnucleus caudalis of the rat. In the light of the present findings, the differences in the neurochemical properties of the subnucleus caudalis of the spinal trigeminal nucleus and the spinal dorsal horn are also discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Antal M, Polgár E (1993) Development of calbindin-D28k immunoreactive neurons in the embryonic chick lumbosacral spinal cord. Eur J Neurosci 5:782–794
Antal M, Freund TF, Polgár E (1990) Calcium-binding proteins, parvalbumin-and calbindin-D28k-immunoreactive neurons in the rat spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia: a light and electron microscopic study. J Comp Neurol 295:467–483
Antal M, Polgár E, Chalmers J, Minson JB, Llewellyn-Smith I, Heizmann, CW, Somogyi P (1991) Different populations of parvalbumin- and calbindin-D28k-immunoreactive neurons contain GABA and accumulate 3H-d-aspartate in the dorsal horn of the rat spinal cord. J Comp Neurol 314:114–124
Antal M, Sholomenko GN, Moschovakis AK, Storm-Mathisen J, Heizmann CW, Hunziker W (1992) The termination pattern and postsynaptic targets of rubro spinal fibers in the rat spinal cord. A light and electron microscopic study. J Comp Neurol 325:22–37
Aronin N, Chase K, Folsom R, Christakos S, DiFiglia M (1991) Immunoreactive calcium-binding protein (calbindin-D28K) in interneurons and trigeminothalamic neurons of the rat nucleus caudalis localized with peroxidase and immunogold methods. Synapse 7:106–113
Baimbridge KG, Miller JJ, Parkes CO (1982) Calcium-binding protein distribution in the rat brain. Brain Res 239:519–525
Batini C (1990) Cerebeller localization and colocalization of GABA and calcium binding protein-D28K. Arch Ital Biol 128:127–149
Bennett-Clarke CA, Chiaia NL, Jacquin MF, Rhoades RW (1992) Parvalbumin and calbindin immunochemistry reveal functionally distinct cell groups and vibrissa-related patterns in the trigeminal brainstem complex of the adult rat. J Comp Neurol 320:323–338
Celio MR (1986) Parvalbumin in most γ-aminobutyric acid-containing neurons of the rat cerebral cortex. Science 231:995–997
Celio MR, (1990) Calbindin D-28k and parvalbumin in the rat nervous system. Neuroscience 35:375–475
Dubner R, Bennett GJ (1983) Spinal and trigeminal mechanisms of nociception. Ann Rev Neurosci 6:381–418
Ginestal E, Matute C (1993) Gamma-aminobutyric acid-immunoreactive neurons in the rat trigeminal nuclei. Histochemistry 99:49–55
Gobel S (1975) Golgi studies of the substantia gelatinosa neurons in the spinal trigeminal nucleus. J Comp Neurol 162:397–416
Gobel S (1978a) Golgi studies of neurons in layer I of the dorsal horn of the medulla (trigeminal nucleus caudalis). J Comp Neurol 180:375–394
Gobel S (1978b) Golgi studies of neurons in layer II of the dorsal horn of the medulla (trigeminal nucleus caudalis). J Comp Neurol 180:395–414
Hodgson AJ, Benke B, Erdei A, Chubb IW, Somogyi P (1985) Antisera to γ-aminobutyric acid. I. Production and characterization using a model system. J Histochem Cytochem 33:229–239
Hu JW, Dostrovsky JO, Sessele BJ (1981) Functional properties of neurons in cat trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (medullary dorsal horn): responses to oral-facial noxious and nonnoxious stimuli and projection to thalamus and subnucleus oralis. J Neurophysiol 45:173–192
Kagi U, Berchtold MW, Heizmann CW (1987) Ca2+-binding parvalbumin in rat testis. J Biol Chem 262:73244–7330
Kosaka T, Katsumaru H, Hama K, Wu JY, Heizmann CW (1987) GABAergic neurons containing the Ca2+-binding protein parvalbumin in the rat hippocampus and dentate gyrus. Brain Res 419:119–130
Mosso JA, Kruger L (1973) Receptor categories represented in spinal trigeminal nucleus caudalis. J Physiol (Lond) 36:472–488
Olszewsky J (1950) On the anatomical and functional organization of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. J Comp Neurol 92:401–409
Ottersen OP, Storm-Mathisen J (1984) Glutamate and GABA-containing neurons in the mouse and rat brain, as demonstrated with a new immuncytochemical technique. J Comp Neurol 229:374–392
Pinol MR, Kagi U, Heizmann CW, Vogel B, Sequier J-M, Haas W, Hunziker W (1990) Poly- and monoclonal antibodies against recombinant rat brain calbindin D-28k were produced to map its selective distribution in the central nervous system. J Neurochem 54:1827–1833
Polgár E, Antal M (1992) The colocalization of parvalbumin and calbindin-D28k with GABA in the subnucleus caudalis of the rat spinal trigeminal nucleus. Eur J Neurosci [Suppl] 5:136
Price DD, Dubner R, Hu JW (1976) Trigeminothalamic neurons in nucleus caudalis responsive to tactile, thermal, and nociceptive stimula tion of monkey's face. J Neurophysiol 39:936–953
Somogyi P, Hodgson AJ (1985) Antiserum to γ-aminobutyric acid. III. Demonstration of GABA on Golgi-impregnated neurons and in conventional electron microscopy sections of cat's striate cortex. J Histochem Cytochem 33:249–257
Szabat E, Soinila S, Happola O, Linnala A, Virtanen I (1992) A new monoclonal antibody against the GABA-protein conjugate shows immunoreactivity in sensory neurons of the rat. Neuroscience 47:409–420
Toth K, Freund TF (1992) Calbindin D28k-containing nonpyramidal cells in the rat hippocampus: their projection to the medial septum. Neuroscience 49:793–805
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Polgár, E., Antal, M. The colocalization of parvalbumin and calbindin-D28k with GABA in the subnucleus caudalis of the rat spinal trigeminal nucleus. Exp Brain Res 103, 402–408 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00241499
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00241499