The cell body size of primary neurons were measured in the trigeminal (TG) and lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) monochrome-stained for calretinin (CR)-like immunoreactivity. A trichrome stain for CR, carbonic anhydrase (CA) and tachykinin (TK) was also employed to estimate possible overlap of cellular distribution of these substances. In the DRG, the cell size spectrum of CR-positive cells was clearly bimodal; a greater proportion (84.1%) of CR-positive cells was distributed in the range > or = 800 microns2 with a mode between 1,500-1,600 microns2, while a smaller proportion (14.8%) < 700 microns2 with a mode of 400-500 microns2. They were evenly distributed throughout the DRG. Although CR-positive TG neurons were smaller than similar DRG neurons, a bimodal distribution pattern remained unchanged. 94.6% of CR-positive cells measured 100-1,400 microns2 with peak ranges of 200-300 microns2 and 400-500 microns2. Most of CR-positive cells in the ophthalmic division were 400 microns2 or larger and small CR-positive cells (< 400 microns2) were concentrated in the maxillary and mandibular divisions. Most of CR-positive DRG cells showed CA activity (76.5%), while those with TK-immunoreactivity were rare (7.2%). In the TG, 38.4% of CR-positive cells were TK-positive. They were mostly smaller than 800 microns2. On the other hand, CA was detected in 43.4% of CR-positive TG cells. Most of the TG cells co-expressing CR and CA were 400 microns2 or larger. Simultaneous co-expression of TK and CA by the CR-positive cells was negligible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)