Abstract
Parvalbumin (PV) is present in a subpopulation of interneurons in the visual cortex2, and also in thalamic afferents to the neocortex of primates18. The object of this study is to confirm by immunoelectron-microscopy the presence of intrinsic and extrinsic connections containing parvalbumin in the monkey visual cortex, by the demonstration of parvalbumin-immunoreactivity in symmetric and asymmetric synapses. We analyzed the distribution of parvalbumin-immunoreactive profiles at the ultrastructural level in the primary visual cortex of old world monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). It has been shown by others that parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells resemble non-spiny stellate cells, double-bouquet cells, chandelier and basket cells2,8,16,21. These neurons are known to be inhibitory and to form symmetric synapses. In fact, we observed that the vast majority of parvalbumin-immunoreactive synaptic contacts in the primary visual cortex of Macaca fascicularis are of the symmetric type (81.7%). Since parvalbumin-positive asymmetric contacts are also present (18.3%) and occur mostly in the thalamic recipient layers, 4C and 4A (9.9%), these afferents probably derive from parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons located in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 237-243 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Brain Research |
Volume | 554 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 19 1991 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Immunoelectron-microscopy
- Monkey visual cortex
- Parvalbumin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
- Molecular Biology
- Clinical Neurology
- Developmental Biology