Calretinin-immunoreactive neurons in rostral migratory stream: neuronal differentiation

THE purpose of the present study was to examine immunohistochemically the e xpression of nestin and polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule in cal retinin-immunoreactive neurons of the rostral migratory stream, the restric ted pathway through which neuronal precursor cells migrate towards the olfa ctory bulb. Using mirror sectioning, calretinin-immunoreactive neurons of t he rostral migratory stream were shown to co-express nestin (20.8%) and pol ysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (61.8%). The results show that ca lretinin-immunoreactive neurons in the rostral migratory stream still expre ss immature neural and neuronal phenotypes. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.