Cerebellar immunoexpression patterns of calcium-binding proteins in rats: potential sex-specific differences

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Research Paper 28/07/2022
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Cerebellar immunoexpression patterns of calcium-binding proteins in rats: potential sex-specific differences

Omamuyovwi M. Ijomone
Int. J. Biosci. 21(1), 209-215, July 2022.
Copyright Statement: Copyright 2022; The Author(s).
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Abstract

Calcium ion (Ca2+) is involved in various neurochemical signalling that contributes to neuronal activation, neurotransmitter modulation and synaptic connections. Hence, it is homeostatic regulation in the brain is of vital importance. Calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) are key regulators of intracellular Ca2+ in the brain. The major CaBPs are calbindin, calretinin, and parvalbumin and are also markers for variety of neuronal subtypes in the brain. Understanding the distribution of brain neurons positively expressing these CaBPs as well as potential sex dimorphism in their expression is of huge relevance given their role in brain disorders. The present study examines calbindin, calretinin, and parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the cerebellum and any potential sex-specific differences. The results showed marked expression of these CaBPs in the cerebellum with calbindin and parvalbumin dominantly reactive in the molecular and Purkinje layers, and calretinin most predominant in the granular layer. Also, we see significantly higher calbindin immunoreactivity in male rats compared to female. While calretinin and parvalbumin immunoreactivity were also higher in males, this effect however did not reach significant levels. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates differential distribution patterns of the major CaBPs, calbindin, calretinin and parvalbumin, in the cerebellum and possible sex-specific differences in their immunoexpression.

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