What is paravalbumin?

Parvalbumin is a calcium-binding protein found in muscle tissue and some neurons in the brain. It is involved in muscle contraction and relaxation and also helps regulate the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. Parvalbumin is often used as a marker for specific types of neurons in neuroscience research. Dysfunction of parvalbumin-positive neurons has been implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder.