Immunocytochemical localization of calbindin-D28k, calbindin-D9k and parvalbumin in rat kidney

Possible sites involved in active Ca2+ transport were traced by means of immunocytochemical detection of calcium-binding proteins (CaBP) in the mammalian kidney. Antisera were raised in rabbits against calbindin-D28k from chick kidney and calbindin-D9k from bovine intestine and parvalbumin from rabbit muscle. In the rat kidney, parvalbumin and calbindin-D9k were co-localized in the loops of Henle and distal convoluted tubule. In the collecting duct their presence was restricted to the intercalated cells. In all responsive cells parvalbumin and calbindin-D9k were present exclusively along the basolateral membrane. Calbindin-D28k was only present in the outer part of the cortex, where it was localized in the distal convoluted tubule and in the connecting tubule. In these cells calbindin-D28k was evenly distributed through the cytosol. Calbindin-D28k, unlike parvalbumin and calbindin-D9k, could not be demonstrated in the loops of Henle or collecting duct.