Calcium-binding proteins calbindin D28K, calretinin, and parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the rabbit visual cortex

The distribution and morphology of neurons containing three calcium-binding proteins, calbindin D28K, calretinin, and parvalbumin in the adult rabbit visual cortex were studied. The calcium-binding proteins were identified using antibody immunocytochemistry. Calbindin D28K-immunoreactive (IR) neurons were located throughout the cortical layers with the highest density in layer V. However, calbindin D28K-IR neurons were rarely encountered in layer I. Calretinin-IR neurons were mainly located in layers II and III. Considerably lower densities of calretinin-IR neurons were observed in the other layers. Parvalbumin-IR neurons were predominantly located in layers III, IV, V, and VI. In layers I and II, parvalbumin-IR neurons were only rarely seen. The majority of the calbindin D28K-IR neurons were stellate, round or oval cells with multipolar dendrites. The majority of calretinin-IR neurons were vertical fusiform cells with long processes traveling perpendicularly to the pial surface. The morphology of the majority of parvalbumin-IR neurons was similar to that of calbindin D28K: stellate, round or oval with multipolar dendrites. These results indicate that these three different calcium-binding proteins are contained in specific layers and cells in the rabbit visual cortex.