Malz CR ; Meyer DL ;

Brain Res vol. 661 (1-2)   pp. 259-64, 24 Oct 1994

Department of Neuroanatomy, School of Medicine, University of Goettingen, Germany.

Retinopetal projections from isthmic and caudal mesencephalic regions were studied in a number of poikilothermic vertebrates. The tested animals were elasmobranchs, bony fishes, amphibians, and reptiles. Isthmo-optic projections were absent in elasmobranchs, sturgeons, most teleosts, all anuran and urodel amphibians, and in anolis lizards. Tegmental projections to the retina were found in a few fishes and in most reptiles. Interspecific variations regarding three morphological parameters were as follows: (i) isthmic projections to the contralateral eye originate from one or from two distinct nuclei; (ii) major interspecific differences exist regarding numbers and aggregation densities of cells in the nuclei of origin; (iii) the percentage of retinopetal fibres that innervate the ipsilateral retina varies significantly between species.

Amphibia: anatomy # histology ;  Animal ;  Anura ;  Axonal Transport ;  Comparative Study ;  Fishes: anatomy & histology ;  Laterality ;  Lizards ;  Mesencephalon: anatomy & histology ;  Neurons: cytology ;  Reptiles: anatomy & histology ;  Retina ;  Species Specificity ;  Support,Non-U.S.Gov't ;  Visual Pathways: anatomy & histology ;  32790 ;