Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2008 Jun;12(3):95-99. 10.4196/kjpp.2008.12.3.95.

Temporal Changes of the Calcium-binding Proteins in the Medial Vestibular Nucleus following Unilateral Labyrinthectomy in Rats

• Hong SM
• Lee JH
• Yeo SG
• Cha CI
• Park BR

• KMID: 2285349
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2008.12.3.95

Abstract

Calcium (Ca2+) is an intracellular second messenger associated with neuronal plasticity of the central nervous system. The calcium-binding proteins regulate the Ca2+-mediated signals in the cytoplasm and buffer the calcium concentration. This study examined temporal changes of three calcium-binding proteins (calretinin, calbindin and parvalbumin) in the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) during vestibular compensation after unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL) in rats. Rats underwent UL, and the changes in the expression of these proteins at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h were examined by immunofluorescence staining. The expression levels of all three proteins increased immediately after UL and returned to the control level by 48 h. However, the level of calretinin showed changes different from the other two proteins, being expressed at significantly higher level in the contralateral MVN than in the ipsilateral MVN 2 h after UL, whereas the other two proteins showed similar expression levels in both the ipsilateral and contralateral MVN. These results suggest that the calcium binding proteins have some protective activity against the increased Ca2+ levels in the MVN. In particular, calretinin might be more responsive to neuronal activity than calbindin or parvalbumin.

Keyword

Calcium-binding proteins; Medial vestibular nuclei; Vestibular compensation

MeSH Terms

Animals
Calcium
Calcium-Binding Protein, Vitamin D-Dependent
Calcium-Binding Proteins
Central Nervous System
Compensation and Redress
Cytoplasm
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Neuronal Plasticity
Neurons
Proteins
Rats
Second Messenger Systems
Vestibular Nuclei
Calcium
Calcium-Binding Protein, Vitamin D-Dependent
Calcium-Binding Proteins
Proteins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Immunofluorescence findings of calretinin in the medial vestibular nucleus after unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL). A & B, left (Lt) & right (Rt) MVN, respectively, in control rat; C & D, ipsilateral (left) & contralateral (right) MVN to the lesion, respectively, 2 h after UL; E & F, ipsilateral & contralateral MVN, respectively, 6 h after UL; G & H, ipsilateral & contralateral MVN, respectively, 24 h after UL; I & J, ipsilateral & contralateral MVN, respectively, 48 h after UL; MVNmc, magnocellular portion MVN; 4thV, 4th ventricle.

• 

  Fig. 2. Changes in the area of calretinin staining in the medial vestibular nucleus after UL. 0 hour represents control; ipsilateral, ipsilateral MVN to the lesion; contralateral, contralateral MVN to the lesion. Relative ratio was calculated from the ratio of the areas in UL animals to those in control animals. Values are mean±SE. ∗p<0.05, ∗∗p<0.01, significantly different from control; †p<0.05, significantly different from the opposite side.

• 

  Fig. 3. Immunofluorescence findings of calbindin in the medial vestibular nucleus after UL. A & B, left (Lt) & right (Rt) MVN, respectively, in control rat; C & D, ipsilateral (left) & contralateral (right) MVN to the lesion, respectively, 2 h after UL; E & F, ipsilateral & contralateral MVN, respectively, 6 h after UL; G & H, ipsilateral & contralateral MVN, respectively, 24 h after UL; I & J, ipsilateral & contralateral MVN, respectively, 48 h after UL. In E & F, the large square in the lower panel is a magnification of the small square in the upper panel. Triangle indicates the nerve terminals and arrow indicates the nerve fibers.

• 

  Fig. 4. Changes in the area of calbindin staining in the medial vestibular nucleus after UL. 0 hour represents control; ipsilateral, ipsilateral MVN to the lesion; contralateral, contralateral MVN to the lesion. Relative ratio was calculated from the ratio of the areas in UL animals to those in control animals. Values are mean±SE. ∗p<0.05, ∗∗p<0.01, significantly different from control.

• 

  Fig. 5. Immunofluorescence findings of calbindin in the medial vestibular nucleus after UL. A & B, left (Lt) & right (Rt) MVN, respectively, in control rat; C & D, ipsilateral (left) & contralateral (right) MVN to the lesion, respectively, 2 h after UL; E & F, ipsilateral & contralateral MVN, respectively, 6 h after UL; G & H, ipsilateral & contralateral MVN, respectively, 24 h after UL; I & J, ipsilateral & contralateral MVN, respectively, 48 h after UL.

• 

  Fig. 6. Changes in the area of parvalbumin staining in the medial vestibular nucleus after UL. 0 hour represents control; ipsilateral, ipsilateral MVN to the lesion; contralateral, contralateral MVN to the lesion. Relative ratio was calculated from the ratio of the areas in UL animals to those in control animals. Values are mean±SE. ∗p<0.05, ∗∗p<0.01, significantly different from control.

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