Calcium binding proteins distinguish large and small cells of the ventral posterior and lateral geniculate nuclei of the prosimian galago and the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri)

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 90; no. 4; pp. 1425 - 1429
• Main Authors: DIAMOND, I. T, FITZPATRICK, D, SCHMECHEL, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC National Acad Sciences 15.02.1993; National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; National Academy of Sciences
• Subjects: Anatomy; Animals; binding; Biological and medical sciences; Brain; calbindin; Calbindins; Calcium-Binding Proteins - analysis; Central nervous system; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Galago; galagos; Geniculate Bodies - cytology; Geniculate Bodies - metabolism; Immunohistochemistry; Monkeys & apes; Neurology; parvalbumin; Parvalbumins - analysis; Proteins; S100 Calcium Binding Protein G - analysis; Species Specificity; specificity; thalamus; tree shrews; Tupaia belangeri; Tupaiidae; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Calcium; Geniculate body; Tupaia belangeri; Central nervous system; Ventroposterior nucleus; Lemuroidea; Parvalbumin; Binding protein; Scandentia; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Cholecalcin; Primates; Thalamus; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.90.4.1425

Two different cell types were identified in the thalamus of galago and Tupaia by using antibodies to two calcium binding proteins, calbindin and parvalbumin. In each species studied, the lateral geniculate nucleus consists of six layers, two of which have smaller relay cells. Previous studies have shown that the small cell layers receive fibers from the superior colliculus and project to the superficial layers of the striate cortex. These are the only geniculate layers that react to a calbindin antibody but not parvalbumin. The ventral posterior nucleus was included in the study and the results for both nuclei show that calbindin is a marker for thalamic cells that receive small fibers and project to superficial layers of koniocortex.