• 통합자연과학논문집
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.63-72
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• 2022

To elucidate the neurochemical characteristics of the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG), the distribution patterns of several neuroanatomical markers within the PAG were compared. Immunohistochemical staining for the intracellular calcium binding proteins including calbindin, calretinin, and parvalbumin and histochemical staining for cytochrome oxidase, acetylcholinesterase, and NADPH-diaphorase were performed in. Each chemical substance were localized in the specific subregions within PAG. Calbindin- immunoreactivity were selectively distributed in the dorsolateral PAG, the ventral half of lateral PAG, the ventralateral PAG, and supraoculomotor cap (Su3C) nucleus. Distribution of calretinin-immunoreactivity were generally similar with that of clabindin, but showed relatively low subregional selectivity. Parvalbumin-immunoreactivity was very poor within the PAG. High reactivity of cytochrome oxidase were found in the dorsomedial PAG and the lateral half of lateral PAG, in which calbindin- and calretinin-immunoreactive perikarya were scarcely observed. Acetylcholinesterase distribution was similar with that of cytochrome oxidase, and the difference was in the additional marking of of Su3C with acetylcholinesterase. Results of the present study provides data for the further subdivisions of the territory of the PAG compared to the presently accepted subregions within the PAG.