Immunohistochemical localization of calretinin in the rat hindbrain

Abstract

The localization of calretinin in the rat hindbrain was examined immunohistochemically with antiserum against calretinin purified from the guinea pig brain. Calretinin immunoreactivity was found within neuronal elements. The distribution of calretinin-immunoreactive cell bodies and fibers is presented in schematic drawings and summarized in a table. Major calretinin-immunoreactive neurons were found in the lateral and medial geniculate nuclei, substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, interpeduncular nucleus, periaqueductal gray, mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus, superior and inferior colliculi, pontine nuclei, parabrachial nucleus, dorsal and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei, cochlear nuclei, vestibular nuclei, medullary reticular nuclei, nucleus of the solitary tract, area postrema, substantia gelatinosa of the spinal trigeminal nucleus, and cerebellum. These results show that distinct calretinin-immunoreactive neurons are widely distributed in the rat hindbrain.

Immunoreactivity for calcium-binding proteins defines subregions of the vestibular nuclear complex of the cat

“…We also see a few calretinin-immunoreactive cells scattered across the VNC and reticular formation. Other reports are inconsistent in descriptions of labeled cells, with cells reported in all nuclei in two studies (Arai et al 1991;Paxinos et al 1999), all but the lateral nucleus in another , and all but the superior vestibular nucleus in a fourth (Kevetter 1996). We see labeled fibers in the MLF and eighth nerve and labeled cells in the reticular formation, in agreement with all studies in the rodent.…”

“…Two studies (Arai et al 1991;Résibois and Rogers 1992) have looked at calretininimmunoreactivity in the vestibular nuclear complex of rodent, one study at calbindin and parvalbumin (Celio 1990) and two studies at all three proteins (Kevetter 1996;Paxinos et al 1999). There are minor differences among results in different studies in rodent, presumably reflecting differences in antibodies or methods.…”

“…Studies using immunoreactivity to calcium-binding proteins noted a small region of calretininimmunoreactive cells in the medial vestibular nucleus, and further found that immunoreactivity to parvalbumin and calbindin defined different fiber populations (Arai et al 1991;Résibois and Rogers 1992;Kevetter and Leonard 1997;Paxinos et al 1999). We have extended this approach to the cat, an animal widely used in studies of vestibular anatomy, physiology and behavior (references in Wilson and Melvill Jones 1979;Gerrits 1990;Barmack 2003).…”

Temporal Changes of the Calcium-binding Proteins in the Medial Vestibular Nucleus following Unilateral Labyrinthectomy in Rats

“…In the auditory system, the level of calbindin expression increased after a unilateral cochleotomy (Forster & Illing, 2000), and the level of parvalbumin expression increased after temporary sensory deprivation of hearing, however, there was a decrease in the level of calretinin expression (Caicedo et al, 1997). The physiological roles of the different calcium-binding proteins are unclear (Arai et al, 1991). In the vestibular system, there are a few reports on the calcium-binding proteins after unilateral deafferentation.…”

“…Their study on the early stage of vestibular compensation is different from the present study, because they examined the mRNA level only and did not quantify calcium-binding protein level in the bilateral MVN, which was the only difference observed between the ipsilateral and contralateral MVN in the present study. Furthermore, Arai et al (1991) reported that calcium-binding proteins were markers for the vestibular afferent input, however, they did not examine the levels at the critically important times when considerable changes in symptoms, molecules or other proteins had occurred during vestibular compensation.…”