Summary
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1.
In adult goldfish the caudal half of the optic tectum was removed. In some animals the corresponding optic nerve was crushed as well. The animals were later used to map the retinotectal projection.
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2.
In fishes with the tectal lesion only, the displaced projection from the missing half-tectum was found to be partially restored over the residual rostral half-tectum, in appropriate retinotopic order. Parts of the residual tectum thus received input from two field positions.
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3.
In fishes with a tectal lesion and crush of the optic nerve, several animals showed compression of the projection of the entire visual field onto the residual half-tectum. In some animals reduplicated field positions were also observed.
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4.
The results are discussed in relation to the mechanism controlling selective fibre regeneration. It is concluded that a strict place-specificity does not exist along the rostrocaudal axis of the tectum and a mechanism of connection control involving pattern regulation is discussed.
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We wish to thank Miss E.M. Forrest for her histological assistance.
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Gaze, R.M., Sharma, S.C. Axial differences in the reinnervation of the goldfish optic tectum by regenerating optic nerve fibres. Exp Brain Res 10, 171–181 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234730
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234730