중간뇌 중심회색질에서 Calbindin-D28K의 신경해부학적 표지성

The Availability of Calbindin-D28K Immunoreactivity as a Neuroanatomical Maiker to Subdivide the Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray

Purpose: We investigated whether the calbindin-D28K (CB) immunoreactivity could be available as a neurochemical marker to identify different anatomical subdivisions in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) of laboratory animals. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry for CB and histochemistry for cytochrome oxidase (CO) were carried out on coronally-sectioned midbrain slices of five species of animals including mice, hamsters, rats, rabbits and guinea pigs. Results: In the rat PAG, at the level of nucleus of trochlear nerve, CB immunoreactive perikarya and plexus of fibers were localized in three band-like areas including dorsolateral PAG (DL), the ventral part of lateral PAG (Lv) and the supraoculomotor cap nucleus (Su3C). The similar pattern in the distribution of CB immunoreactivity was noticed also in the rabbit and the guinea pig PAG at the corresponding level, with three areas of DL, Lv and the ventral part of ventrolateral PAG. In all the 5 species of animals, Su3C was readily marked with clusters of CB-immunoreactive perikarya and fibers. In the comparison between the CB-immunoreactivity and the CO activity in the PAG, CB-immunoreactive areas were coincidided with areas of the low CO activity. Conclusion: The present data suggest that the CB immunoreactivity can be regarded as a reliable neurochemical marker for the specific areas within the midbrain PAG.