Postnatal development of parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex of the cat

Abstract

Parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the developing neocortex of the cat progresses following specific laminar, areal, and, in a particular area, roughly anteroposterior gradients. Parvalbumin immunoreactivity first occurs in basket cells and later in chandelier neurons. Pyramid‐like immunoreactive neurons are also transitorily observed from the second to the third week in layer V of the auditory association‐related areas. Parvalbumin‐immunoreactive neurons first appear in the primary somatosensory cortex and primary auditory and visual areas, followed by the primary motor and polysensory association areas and, finally, the auditory association areas and cortical areas related to the limbic system. In addition to cortical neurons, three fiber systems are immunolabeled with antiparvalbumin antibodies: thalamocortical, callosal, and ipsilateral corticocortical. Parvalbumin‐immunoreactive thalamocortical fibers appear during the first month of postnatal life. Parvalbumin‐immunoreactive callosal and ipsilateral corticocortical fibers are seen from the fourth postnatal week onward. Because all parvalbumin‐immunoreactive cortical neurons in adulthood are nonpyramidal inhibitory cells, the present findings suggest that a number of ipsilateral corticocortical and callosal connections may be inhibitory.