Expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid and calcium binding protein-parvalbumin by chick motoneurons.
The expression of calcium binding protein parvalbumin (PV) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was studied in the chick motoneurons by using pre- and postembedding immunocytochemistry. Our data reveal that PV and GABA are colocalized in the majority, but not all, of chick lumbo-sacral spinal motoneurons innervating the somatic muscles. It is suggested that, in this neuromuscular system, GABA does not act as a classical inhibitory neurotransmitter but, combined with calcium, could be involved, at least in part, in the maintenance of neurons and the prevention of cell death as in certain neurodegenerative disorders.
Philippe
E
E
Centre de Recherche en Neurobiologie, Université Laval Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus, Québec, Canada.
Gaulin
F
F
Audet
G
G
Zhou
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002645:Chickens; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000737:chemistry*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000032:analysis*; D016610:Tissue Embedding; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis*
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D010320:Parvalbumins; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid