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Afferent connections of the optic tectum in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus

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Summary

Horseradish peroxidase was injected unilaterally into the optic tectum of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. The sources of tectal afferents were thereby revealed by retrogradely labeled neurons in various brain centers. Retrogradely labeled cells were seen in both the ipsilateral and contralateral telencephalon. The superficial pretectal area was labeled on both sides of the brain. Ipsilateral projections were also observed coming from the entopeduncular nucleus. Both the anterior thalamic nucleus and the ventro-medial thalamic nucleus projected to the ipsilateral optic tectum. Cells in the ipsilateral nucleus of the posterior commissure were seen to project to the tectum. Labeled fibers were visualized in the lateral geniculate nucleus ipsilateral to the injected tectum, however, no labeled cell bodies were observed. Therefore, tectal cells project to the lateral geniculate nucleus, but this projection is not reciprocal. No labeled cells were found in the cerebellum. Labeled cells occurred in both the ipsilateral and contralateral medial reticular formation; they were also observed in the ipsilateral nucleus isthmi. A projection was seen coming from the dorsal funicular nucleus. Furthermore, labeled cells were shown in the inferior raphe nucleus.

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Abbreviations

AP :

Area pretectalis

C :

Cerebellum

DPTN :

Dorsal posterior tegmental nucleus

H :

Habenula

IRF :

Inferior reticular formation

LI :

Inferior lobe

LGN :

Lateral geniculate nucleus

LR :

Lateral recess

MB :

Mammillary body

MRF :

Medial reticular formation

MZ :

Medial zone of the telencephalon

NC :

Nucleus corticalis

NDL-M :

Nucleus opticus dorsolateralis/pars medialis

NI :

Nucleus isthmi

NPC :

Nucleus of the posterior commissure

OPT :

Optic tectum

OT :

Optic tract

PC :

Posterior commissure

PN :

Pineal organ

PrOP :

Preoptic nucleus

PT :

Pretectum

TBt :

Tectobulbar tract

TEL :

Telencephalon

TL :

Torus longitudinalis

TS :

Torus semicircularis

VC :

Valvula cerebelli

VLTN :

Ventrolateral thalamic nucleus

VMTN :

Ventromedial thalamic nucleus

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA

    S. D. Schlussman, M. A. Kobylack, A. A. Dunn-Meynell & S. C. Sharma

  2. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA

    S. D. Schlussman, M. A. Kobylack, A. A. Dunn-Meynell & S. C. Sharma

Authors
  1. S. D. Schlussman
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  2. M. A. Kobylack
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  3. A. A. Dunn-Meynell
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  4. S. C. Sharma
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Schlussman, S.D., Kobylack, M.A., Dunn-Meynell, A.A. et al. Afferent connections of the optic tectum in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus . Cell Tissue Res 262, 531–541 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305250

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305250

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