1 Introduction -- 1.1 Calcium-Binding Proteins -- 1.2 CaBPs in the Mature and Developing Central Nervous System -- 1.3 Overview: Features of the Developing Brain -- 1.4 Scope of This Review -- 1.5 Materials and Methods -- 2 Cerebral Cortex: Subplate -- 2.1 Description -- 2.2 Expression of CaBPs in the Subplate -- 2.3 Functional Roles of the Subplate -- 2.4 Resolution of the Subplate -- 2.5 Effect of Fetal Hydrocephalus on the Distribution Pattern of CaBPs in the Subplate -- 2.6 Significance of the Subplate in Premature Infants -- 3 Cerebral Cortex: Cortical Plate -- 3.1 Description -- 3.2 CaBPs in the Cortical Plate -- 3.3 Effect of Fetal Hydrocephalus on the Distribution Pattern of CaBPs in the Cortical Plate -- 4 Cerebral Cortex: Molecular Layer (Layer I) -- 4.1 Description -- 4.2 CaBPs in the Molecular Layer -- 4.3 Alterations in the Organization of Layer I in Trisomy 22 -- 5 Ganglionic Eminence -- 5.1 Description -- 5.2 Developmental History -- 5.3 Neuronal Populations Originating from the Ganglionic Eminence -- 5.4 Calretinin and Calbindin Immunoreactive Cells in the Ganglionic Eminence and in the Intermediate Zone -- 5.5 The Ganglionic Eminence as an Intermediate Target -- 5.6 Significance of the Ganglionic Eminence in Developmental Neuropathology -- 6 Striatum -- 6.1 Description -- 6.2 Calbindin Expression in the Developing Striatum -- 6.3 Correlation of Calbindin Immunostaining and Expression of Synapse-Related Proteins in the Striatal Compartment of the Human Developing Brain -- 6.4 Significance of the Immunohistochemical Findings in the Striatum for Developmental Neuropathology -- 7 Amygdala -- 7.1 Description -- 7.2 Transient Architectonic Features of the Amygdala -- 7.3 Nerve Cell Types in the Fetal Amygdala as Seen in Calbindin and Calretinin Immunopreparations -- 7.4 Diffuse Calbindin and Calretinin Immunostaining in the Human Fetal Amygdala -- 8 Basal Nucleus of Meynert -- 8.1 Description -- 8.2 Calbindin Immunoreactive Neurons in the Basal Nucleus of Meynert -- 8.3 Effect of Fetal Hydrocephalus on Neuronal Morphology in the Basal Nucleus of Meynert -- 9 Hypothalamic Tuberomamillary Nucleus -- 9.1 Description -- 9.2 Parvalbumin and Calretinin in the Tuberomamillary Nucleus -- 10 Thalamic Reticular Complex -- 10.1 Description -- 10.2 Main Portion -- 10.3 Perireticular Nucleus -- 10.4 Medial Subnucleus -- 10.5 Pregeniculate Nucleus -- 10.6 Neuronal Types of the Thalamic Reticular Complex as Seen in Parvalbumin and Calretinin Immunopreparations -- 11 Red Nucleus -- 11.1 Description -- 11.2 Distribution Pattern of CaBPs in the Developing and Adult Red Nucleus -- 11.3 Relationship Between the Magnocellular and Parvocellular Parts -- 11.4 Neurochemical Characteristics of Rubric Nerve Cells -- 11.5 The Magnocellular Part of the Red Nucleus in the Adult Human Brain -- 11.6 The Magnocellular Part of the Red Nucleus in the Developing Human Brain -- 11.7 Significance of the Prominent Magnocellular Part for Neuropediatrics -- 12 Summary -- References