Abstract
The ordered representation of the retina in the tectum of hamsters can be influenced by experimental manipulation of factors intrinsic to the developmental process, such as the direction and timing of arrival of retinal fibers. The orientation of the retinotopic map in the tectum with respect to the neural axes, the amount of representation of retinal subareas on the tectal surface, and the laminar specificity of retinal terminals in tectum are differentially affected by these developmental factors.
If the amount of tectal tissue is reduced at birth in hamster by a large amount, only a portion of visual field comes to be represented. The area of visual field represented is in every case lower nasal visual field, regardless of whether caudal, rostrolateral, central, or superficial tectal tissue is removed. This asymmetry in surface representation is also reflected in the laminar distribution of retinal fibers in the tectum. A source for the inhoniogeneity in visual field representation may be direction of optic tract arrival in tectum, which begins at the rostrolateral margin of the tectum, where lower nasal visual field is represented.
The polarity of the retinotopic map in tectum—its orientation with respect to the neural axes—may be dissociated from direction of fiber arrival, for if fibers are induced to enter the tectum medially, opposite to their normal entry point, a retinotopic map of normal order and polarity develops. Classes of mechanisms that account for both of these observations are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Attardi, D. G., and R. W. Sperry (1963). Preferential selection of central pathways of regenerating optic fibers. Exp. Neurol. 7:46–64.
Bunt, S. M., and T. J. Horder (1977). A proposal regarding the significance of simple mechanical events such as the development of the choroid fissure, in the organization of central visual connections. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 272:10–11.
Chung, S. H., and Cooke (1975). Polarity of structure and of ordered nerve connections in the developing amphibian brain. Nature (Lond.) 258:126–132.
Cunningham, T. J. (1976). Early eye removal produces excessive bilateral branching in the rat: application of cobalt filling method. Science 194:857–859.
Drager, U. C., and D. H. Hubel (1975). Responses to visual stimulation and relationship between visual, auditory and somatosensory units in mouse superior colliculus. J. Neurophysiol. 39:690–713.
Finlay, B. L. (1976). Neuronal specificity and plasticity in hamster superior colliculus: electrophysiological studies. Doctoral dissertation, Department of Psychology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Finlay, B. L., S. E. Schneps, K. G. Wilson, and G. E. Schneider (1978). Topography of visual and somatosensory projections to the superior colliculus of the golden hamster. Brain Res. 142:223–235.
Finlay, B. L., and K. F. So (1979). Altered retinotectal topography in hamsters with neonatal tectal slits. Neuroscience (in press).
Finlay, B. L., K. G. Wilson, and G. E. Schneider (1979). Anomalous ipsilateral retinotectal projections in hamsters with early lesions: topography and functional capacity. J. Comp. Neurol. 183:721–740.
Frost, D. O. (1975). Factors influencing the development and plasticity of retinal projections in the Syrian hamster. Doctoral dissertation, Department of Psychology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Gaze, R. M. (1970). The Formation of Nerve Connections. Academic Press, New York.
Hope, R. A., B. J. Hammond, and R. M. Gaze (1976). The arrow model: retinotectal specificity and map formation in the goldfish visual system. Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. B 194:447–466.
Hunt, R. K., and M. Jacobson (1973). Specification of positional information in retinal ganglion cells of Xenopus Assays for analysis of the unspecified state. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 70:507–511.
Jhaveri, S. R., and G. E. Schneider (1974). Retinal projections in Syrian hamsters: normal topography and alterations after partial tectum lesions at birth. Anat. Rec. 178:383.
LaVail, J. H., and W. M. Cowan (1971). The development of the chick optic tectum. I. Normal morphology and cytoarchitectonic development. Brain Res. 28:391–419.
Lopresti, V., R. E. Macagno, and C. Levinthal (1973). Structure and development of neuronal connections in isogenic organisms: Cellular interactions in the development of the optic lamina of Daphnia Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 70:433–437.
Lund, R. D. (1978). Development and Plasticity of the Brain. Oxford University Press, London.
Meyer, R. L. (1977). Eye-in-water mapping of goldfish with and without tectal lesions. Exp. Neurol. 56:23–41.
Meyer, R. L., and R. W. Sperry (1976). Retinotectal specificity: Chemoaffinity theory. In: Studies on the development of behavior and the nervous system, Vol. 3, Neural and behavioral specificity. G. Gottlieb (ed.). Academic Press, New York, pp. 111–149.
Prestige, M. C., and D. H. Willshaw (1975). On a role for competition in the formation of patterned neural connexions. Proc. Roy. Soc. B 190:77–98.
Rakic, P. (1977). Prenatal development of the visual system in rhesus monkey. Phil. Trans. B 278:245–260.
Schneider, G. E. (1973). Early lesions of the superior colliculus: factors affecting the formation of abnormal retinal projections. Brain Behav. Evol. 8:73–109.
So, K. F., G. E. Schneider, and D. O. Frost (1977). Normal development of the retinofugal projections in Syrian hamsters. Anat. Rec. 187:719.
Straznicky, K., and R. M. Gaze (1971). The growth of the retina in Xenopus laevis: An autoradiographic study. J. Embryol. Exp. Morphol. 26:67–79.
Straznicky, K., and R. M. Gaze (1972). The growth of the tectum in Xenopus laevis: An autoradiographic study. J. Embryol. Exp. Morphol. 28:87–115.
Wolpert, L. (1971). Positional information and pattern formation. Curr. Top. Develop. Biol. 6:183–224.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1979 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Finlay, B.L. (1979). Experimental Manipulations of the Development of Ordered Projections in the Mammalian Brain. In: Freeman, R.D. (eds) Developmental Neurobiology of Vision. NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series, vol 27. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3605-1_34
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3605-1_34
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-3607-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-3605-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive