Abstract
Interneurons are involved in the physiological function and the pathomechanism of the spinal cord. Present study aimed to examine and compare the characteristics of Cr+, Calb+ and Parv+ interneurons in morphology and distribution by using immunhistochemical and Western blot techniques. Results showed that 1) Cr-Calb presented a higher co-existence rate than that of Cr-Parv, and both of them were higher in the ventral horn than in the dosal horn; 2) Cr+, Calb+ and Parv+ neurons distributing zonally in the superficial dosal horn were small-sized. Parv+ neuronswere the largest, and Cr+ and Calb+ neurons were higher density among them. In the deep dorsal horn, Parv+ neurons were mainly located in nucleus thoracicus and the remaining scatteredly distributed. Cr+ neuronal size was the largest, and Calb+ neurons were the least among three interneuron types; 3) Cr+, Calb+ and Parv+ neurons of ventral horns displayed polygonal, round and fusiform, and Cr+ and Parv+ neurons were mainly distributed in the deep layer, but Calb+ neurons mainly in the superficial layer. Cr+ neurons were the largest, and distributed more in ventral horns than in dorsal horns; 4) in the dorsal horn of lumbar cords, Calb protein levels was the highest, but Parv protein level in ventral horns was the highest among the three protein types. Present results suggested that the morphological characteristics of three interneuron types imply their physiological function and pathomechanism relevance.
Highlights
Because of neuron types, histological structure and neural circles, the dorsal horn, the intermediate gray and the ventral horn of the spinal cord show different physiological and pathological features
The territorial regulating function of the spinal cord is mainly dependent on its inherent neuronal property and architecture, which play their role by the neural circuits known as “central pattern generators”; the neurons in the dorsal horn mainly relay sensory information and control skeletal muscle action in the ventral horn
The spinal gray matter contains a lot of inhibitory interneurons, among which Calb and Parv are well known as typical inhibitory interneurons and mediate their physiological function by GABA and glycine neurotransmitters [21]
Summary
Histological structure and neural circles, the dorsal horn, the intermediate gray and the ventral horn of the spinal cord show different physiological and pathological features. Excepting for the sensory neurons of the dorsal horn and the motor neurons of the ventral horn, there are many medium sized interneurons in the gray matter of spinal cords, and most of them are known as RCs (Renshaw cells)with GABA (γ-aminobutyricacid) or GLY (glycine) neurotransmitters [4,5,6,7,8,9,10], which form complex reciprocal inhibitive circles, and they mediate and influence the physiological function and pathological response of spinal cords. Cr (Calretinin), Calb (Calbindin-D28k) and Parv (Parvalbumin) are members of the calcium-binding protein family, which are known as major components of interneurons of spinal cords [11] They are involved in the buffering of free intracellular calcium, and play an important role in maintaining the calcium homeostasis of gray matter neurons [12,13,14]. These morphological data are of important significance for further understanding the physiological function and pathological mechanism of the spinal cord and its interneurons
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
