title: Gap junctions on GABAergic neurons containing the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin in the rat hippocampus (CA1 region).
abstract: Gap junctions were identified for the first time on chemically defined neurons in the central nervous system. Gap junctions were thus demonstrated on GABAergic neurons containing the calcium-binding on GABAergic neurons containing the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) in the rat hippocampus. Thin and semithin (0.5 micron thick) sections were cut alternately and consecutively from osmium-fixed tissue which was embedded in epoxy resin and usable for conventional electron microscopic studies. The semithin sections were processed for postembedding immunocytochemistry using an anti-PV serum. Structures corresponding to the PV-immunoreactive (PV-I) profiles on the semithin sections were easily identified on electron micrographs from the adjacent thin sections. Using this technique gap junctions were found (1) between PV-I dendrites, (2) between PV-I dendrites and PV-I somata and (3) between PV-I dendrites and small processes whose origin could not be identified. Despite a systematic search, we did not find gap junction between PV-negative processes.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katsumaru
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kosaka
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Heizmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000032:analysis*; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009124:Muscle Proteins; D010320:Parvalbumins; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid