Neocortical Neuronal Diversity: Chemical Heterogeneity Revealed by Colocalization Studies of Classic Neurotransmitters, Neuropeptides, Calcium-binding Proteins, and Cell Surface Molecules

Abstract

The use of immunocytochemical and histochemical methods to study colocalization of two or more chemical compounds in the same neuron has revealed that there is a great diversity of neocortical neurons. Neurons double stained for two or more substances are found in all layers, except in layer I, in all cortical areas and species studied so far, but there seem to be differences in the proportions and numbers of neurons double stained for a particular combination of substances between different species, and between cortical layers and cortical areas of the same species.