title: Localization of vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein in the electrosensory and electromotor system of high frequency gymnotid fish.
abstract: Vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein (D-CaBP) was localized in the brains of high frequency gymnotid fish. In birds and mammals this protein is seen in a variety of cell types including Purkinje cells, inferior olivary cells and CA1 pyramids of the hippocampus. This distribution has led us to speculate that D-CaBP may be important in buffering intracellular calcium, perhaps more specifically that calcium which enters the cell during dendritic calcium spikes. In the gymnotid fish D-CaBP was found in many of the same cell types in which it is also seen in birds and mammals. In addition, D-CaBP is specifically present in neurons which drive the electric organ (pacemaker and relay cells) and neurons within the electrosensory system which are phase-locked to the electric organ discharge (spherical and giant cells). Relay cells and giant cells have exceptionally high concentrations of D-CaBP. These cells do not exhibit calcium spikes and the role of their D-CaBP may be to regulate calcium released from intracellular stores.
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000294:innervation*; D005399:Fishes; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000378:metabolism*; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000378:metabolism*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D002118:Calcium