The calcium binding proteins parvalbumin and calbindin‐D 28K form complementary patterns in the cat superior colliculus

Parvalbumin (PV) and calbindin‐D 28K (CaBP) are calcium binding proteins involved in calcium regulation in the brain. In some regions they coexist in the same neuron, while in other regions they are found in different cell types. We have studied the distribution and morphology of PV labeled neurons in the cat superior colliculus (SC) with antibody immunocytochemistry and compared this labeling to that of CaBP. PV neurons were concentrated in a dense tier within the deep superficial gray and upper optic layers. Scattered PV neurons also were found within the deep layers of SC. By contrast, CaBP neurons were concentrated in three tiers: one within the zonal and upper superficial gray layers, a second within the deep optic and upper intermediate gray layers (IGL), and a third within the deep gray layer. The distribution of PV neurons is thus complementary to that of CaBP neurons, with the CaBP cell tiers bordering the dense tier of PV neurons. PV neurons varied in size and morphology. The average diameter of labeled cells was 20 μm, almost twice the size of CaBP neurons. The cells were predominantly round, vertical fusiform, or stellate, and included the very large neurons found scattered in the IGL. Horseradish peroxidase injections into the lateral geniculate nucleus, the lateral posterior nucleus, the opposite superior colliculus, the dorsal lateral pontine gray nucleus, and two descending pathways—the crossed predorsal bundle and the tecto‐ponto‐bulbar tracts—each labeled SC neurons that were also labeled by PV. A large percentage (84%) of projection neurons contained PV. This result also differs from CaBP neurons in SC, most of which are interneurons. Two antigen double‐label experiments did not produce any cells that contained both PV and CaBP. The two calcium binding proteins thus reveal a unique sublaminar organization in SC that consists of alternating small cell interneuron groups and large cell projection neuron groups.