Calbindin-D in peripheral nerve cells is vitamin D and calcium dependent

The vitamin D-induced calcium-binding protein calbindin-D (CaBP) was localized immunohistochemically in some but not all of the cell bodies and axons within the intestinalis nerve of the chicken. Unlike other nerve tissue thus far examined, the CaBP content of the intestinalis nerve was decreased in vitamin D deficiency and increased in chicken adapted to a calcium-deficient diet. These changes are qualitatively similar to the pattern of response of enterocytes. The inclusion of calcium-containing solutions within the duodenal lumen caused, directly or indirectly, a decrease in the amount of CaBP in this nerve in a dose-dependent manner. The exact role of CaBP in intestinalis nerve cells is unknown but may be in the regulation of intracellular ionic Ca2+ concentrations during excitation, although other functions of CaBP cannot be excluded.