Rodent noradrenergic chromaffin cells contain calbindin D28K immunoreactivity

The calcium binding protein calbindin D28K is heterogeneously distributed i n neurons throughout the body. We have investigated the distribution of cal bindin in the chromaffin cells of the adult rodent adrenal medulla, which s hare the same developmental origin as peripheral sensory and autonomic neur ons. Calbindin immunoreactivity was present in all noradrenergic chromaffin cells (defined by their lack of the adrenaline synthesizing enzyme, phenyl ethanolamine N-methyl transferase) in both the rat and mouse. It was also p resent in a very few adrenergic chromaffin cells in both rat and mouse. Cal bindin-immunoreactivity is present in rat noradrenergic chromaffin cells fr om the day of birth and so is a useful marker for identifying rodent noradr energic chromaffin cells. NeuroReport 11:1199-1202 (C) 2000 Lippincott Will iams & Wilkins.