OBJECTIVETo observe the expressions of Calbindin(CB) and Parvalbumin (PV), the two calcium-binding protein, in auditory pathway in mice of wild type C57BL/6J and kit⁺/kitW⁻ ²Bao, a kit gene mutant.

METHODSSix mutated kit gene kit⁺/kitW⁻ ²Bao mice and 6 wild type C57BL/6J (B6) mice were anaesthetized i. p. with chloral hydrate. After the mice were fixed by heart perfusion, the brains were removed and coronal sections were cut with a freezing microtome.

RESULTSWe found that wild type mice had significant expressions of PV on ventral cochlear nucleus, anterior part (AVCN), ventral cochlear nucleus, posterior part (PVCN), inferior colliculus (IC) and auditory cortex (AC). CB was expressed in wild type mice on PVCN and nucleus of the trapezoid body (Tz). The mutant of kit gene induced the less expression of PV on PVCN, IC and AC (P < 0.01), but increased the expression of Tz (P < 0.01). CB could not be observed on PVCN in mutant mice, and the expression of AC was increased( P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCB and PV has differential expression level in auditory pathway. Since mutated kit gene can affect expression of PV on PVCN, IC, Tz and AC, as well as CB on PVCN and AC, it suggests that the mutation of kit gene can affect the advanced function of central nervous system in auditory pathway.