Decreased calbindin-D28k immunoreactivity in aged rat sympathetic pelvic ganglionic neurons

The rat major pelvic ganglion contains the majority of sympathetic and parasympathetic postganglionic neurons that innervate the pelvic viscera. Previous studies have indicated that it is only the sympathetic population of this ganglion that is susceptible to age-associated changes. We have examined the distribution of the neuronal calcium binding proteins calbindin-D28k, calretinin and parvalbumin by immunohistochemistry in young adult and aged rats and have discovered that calbindin-D28k is only present in the sympathetic neurons (identified by tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining) and not in parasympathetic neurons (identified by VIP immunostaining). In the aged rats the number of calbindin-immunoreactive sympathetic neurons of the major pelvic ganglion was dramatically reduced. Calretinin and parvalbumin-immunoreactivity was present at a lower level of fluorescence than that of calbindin immunoreactivity in all the neurons of the major pelvic ganglion and this level was unchanged in aged rats. Thus we suggest that the decline of intracellular calbindin D28k levels may lead to impaired calcium buffering capacity which might be a contributory factor in the age-associated attrition of pelvic sympathetic neurons.