Different calcium-binding proteins identify subpopulations of vestibular ganglion neurons in the rat.

Vestibular neurons were studied by cytochrome oxidase (CO) histochemistry and by immunocytochemistry using antibodies against parvalbumin (PV), calbindin (CaBP), calretinin (CaR) and 160 KD neurofilament protein (NF). All the neurons present a high level of CO activity and a high content of PV. CaBP and CaR are restricted to a specific population of about 16% of the neurons and are among the largest ones. The latter neurons also have a high density of NF 160 KD protein. In conclusion the biochemical characteristics of the vestibular ganglion neurons are discussed in relation to their morphological and physiological properties.