Parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the central auditory system of the gerbil: a developmental study

Changes in parvalbumin-like immunoreactivity were studied during ontogenetic development of the central auditory system of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). The nucleus of the trapezoid body contained cells that could be stained on the day of birth while in the superior olivary complex, prominent staining of cell somata was only found at P15 (postnatal day 15). Neurons located in the ventral nucleus, in the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus and in the inferior colliculus developed parvalbumin immunoreactivity mostly between P11-P15 (ventral nucleus), P15-P19 (dorsal nucleus) and P15-P19 (inferior colliculus), respectively. The accumulation of PV correlates reasonably well with the functional maturation of the neurons in these areas.