Parvalbumin and Calbindin D28k in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus of the Chinchilla

The aim of this study was to track the immunoreactivity of parvalbumin and calbindin D28k buffering proteins in neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus DRN of the adult male chinchilla. The reaction of peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) using specific antibodies against these proteins was performed. In most neurons, with the exception of small oval and medium-sized, stellate neurons, weak immunostaining of parvalbumin was observed. On the contrary, very intense immunostaining for calbindin D28k was shown in almost all neurons of the examined area. The results indicate a slightly different distribution in the nucleus dorsal raphe in the adult male chinchilla than in the rat. This shows that mainly calbindin D28k is included in the regulation of intracellular calcium ion concentration in the nucleus dorsal raphe of chinchilla.