Persistence of Cajal-Retzius cells in the adult human cerebral cortex. An immunohistochemical study

The presence of Cajal-Retzius cells in the adult human prefrontal and visua l cortices has been demonstrated with calcium binding protein immunocytoche mistry and NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry. These cells expressed parvalbum in, calbindin and calretinin calcium binding proteins and displayed NADPH-d iaphorase enzyme activity. The three basic morphological profiles-horizonta l, pyriform and multipolar-were observed. The morphologies of labelled cell s resembled those of neurons observed in Golgi studies of the human cerebra l cortex. The presence of calcium binding proteins and NADPH-diaphorase in these cells suggests a possible inhibitory role as GABAergic neurons. The p ersistence of Cajal-Retzius cells in the adult cerebral cortex supports the idea that they undergo developmental dilution rather than postnatal degene ration.