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Ontogeny of the calcium binding protein calbindin D-28k in the rat nervous system
S Enderlin1, A W Norman, M R Celio
1Anatomisches Institut der Universität Zürich, Switzerland.
Insights
Calbindin D-28k protein expression in rat brain development begins early in the central and peripheral nervous systems. This calcium-binding protein
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Calbindin D-28k is a calcium-binding protein crucial for neuronal function.
- Understanding its developmental expression pattern is key to deciphering its role in brain maturation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the spatiotemporal expression of Calbindin D-28k during rat brain development.
- To investigate the relationship between Calbindin D-28k expression and key neurodevelopmental events.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to detect Calbindin D-28k immunoreactivity.
- Expression patterns were analyzed across various developmental stages (E14, E15, E19) and in the adult rat brain.
Main Results:
- Calbindin D-28k immunoreactivity was detected early in the central and peripheral nervous systems (E14-E15).
- Specific brain regions showed distinct temporal expression patterns, with most reaching adult levels before birth.
- Expression typically followed the cessation of cell division and onset of neuronal migration and process extension.
Conclusions:
- Calbindin D-28k expression is developmentally regulated in the rat nervous system.
- The timing of its appearance suggests a potential role in calcium-dependent neurodevelopmental processes like migration and neurite outgrowth.
Abstract:
Calbindin D-28k immunoreactivity appeared at embryonal day 14 (E14) in the central nervous system as well as in the sensory organs and at E15 in the peripheral nervous system of the rat. At E14 the infundibular process of the diencephalon, cells of the posterior hypothalamus and of the dorsal thalamus were the only structures strongly immunostained in the brain, whereas neurons of the basal plate of the spinal cord, medulla oblongata and of the outermost layer of the cerebral cortex were only faintly labeled. Calbindin positive cerebellar Purkinje cells could be discerned at E15 together with a few cells in the hippocampus and in ganglia of the cranial nerves. At E19 various mesencephalic and metencephalic structures, spinal ganglion cells and basal ganglia displayed calbindin immunoreactive cells. The adult pattern of calbindin immunoreactivity (Garcia Segura et al. 1984) was reached before birth in most brain regions. In general, cells which displayed calbindin during brain development were also calbindin positive in the adult animal. Exceptions to this rule were cells of deep nuclei of the cerebellum and non-neuronal cells which transiently expressed calbindin during development. Calbindin appeared in a given brain region almost invariably 1 or 2 days after the cessation of cell division and the beginning of neuronal migration and extension of neuronal processes. The calcium binding protein calbindin might influence these Ca2+-dependent processes.