ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was laminar morphometric study of immuno-labeled parvalbumin containing (PA+) neurons of cortical somatosensory area SI in outbred albino rats (n = 10). The study of frontal and tangential sections 60 µm and 4 µm thick demonstrated a considerable diversity in cell body shape and size as well as in branching of the processes in PA+ neurons in all the layers of the cortex. The greatest number of PA+ neurons (47.1%) was found in layer IV of the cortex, in the zone of barrel formation. The study of tangential sections has shown that the largest number of PA+ neurons was localized in the barrel septa (43%). In layer IV, their greatest density was detected in the walls of the barrel, making it possible to clearly identify their outlines. Quantitative predominance of PA+ neurons in the septa may be associated with the direction of their dendrite course into the inner part of the barrel and the formation of dendro-dendritic gap junctions that, in turn, could be a morphological basis of individual local pacemaker rhythmogenesis and regulation of the functional state of the cortical columns.
Subject(s)
Parvalbumins/metabolism , Sensory Receptor Cells/ultrastructure , Somatosensory Cortex/ultrastructure , Animals , Cell Count , Cell Size , Female , Immunohistochemistry , Male , Rats , Sensory Receptor Cells/metabolism , Somatosensory Cortex/metabolismABSTRACT
Characteristics of rat ECoG organization before and after vibrissa active movements were studied by means ofmicroelectrode recording. It was shown that different brain structures were recruited to a variable extent in planning and initiation of vibrissae active movements depending on a functional state.
