Abstract
Because the axons of retinal ganglion cells are the sole channels carrying information from the eye, the organization of their central projections is important in visual processing. However, their detailed destinations and patterns of synaptic distribution at the level of single, functionally identified cells are not known. Most anatomical studies involve populations of cells or fibres and do not examine their physiological properties; physiological studies involving intraceliular recording and injection of marker substances into cell bodies1–3 of single cells do not reveal distant axon terminals because the markers stain the fibres for only a few millimetres from the perikarya. To examine the central projections of retinal ganglion cells we have impaled single optic tract fibres near their sites of termination4,5 and injected them iontophoretically with the marker enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP). We now report that this method has revealed the thalamic and midbrain ramifications of single physiologically characterized axons. The individual optic-tract fibres branch repeatedly, sending collaterals to the superior colliculus (SC), the medial interlaminar nucleus (MIN), and to one or more laminae within the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd). In different nuclei the single axons form arborizations of characteristically different shapes and distribute their synaptic terminals in columns (LGNd), sheets (MIN) or widely spread patches (SC).
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Muller, K. J. & McMahan, U. J. Proc. R. Soc. B194, 481–499 (1976).
Jankowska, E., Rastad, J. & Westman, J. Brain Res. 105, 562–577 (1976).
Snow, P. J., Rose, P. K. & Brown, A. G. Science 191, 312–321 (1976).
Brown, A. G., Rose, P. K. & Snow, P. J. J. Physiol., Lond. 263, 132P–134P (1976).
Gilbert, C. D. & Wiesel, T. N. Nature 280, 120–125 (1979).
Michael, C. R. J. Neurophysiol. 41, 572–588 (1978).
Adams, J. C. Neuroscience 2, 141–145 (1977).
Malmgren, L. & Olsson, Y. Brain Res. 148, 279–294 (1978).
Cleland, B. G. & Levick, W. R. J. Physiol., Lond. 240, 421–456 (1974).
Stone, J. & Fukuda, Y. J. Neurophysiol. 37, 722–748 (1974).
Enroth-Cugell, C. & Robson, J. G. J. Physiol., Lond. 187, 517–552 (1966).
Hochstein, S. & Shapley, R. M. J. Physiol., Lond. 262, 237–264 (1976).
Hamasaki, D. I. & Sujita . Expl Brain Res. 35, 25–36 (1979).
Mason, C. A. & Robson, J. A. Neuroscience 4, 79–97, 99–111 (1979).
Guillery, R. W. J. comp. Neurol. 138, 339–368 (1970).
Bishop, P. O., Kozak, W., Levick, W. R. & Vakkur, G. J. Physiol., Lond. 163, 503–539 (1962).
Sanderson, K. J. Expl Brain Res. 13, 159–177 (1971); J. comp. Neurol. 143, 101–118 (1971).
Mitzdorf, J. & Singer, W. J. Neurophysiol. 40, 1227–1244 (1977).
Hubel, D. H. & Weisel, T. N. J. comp. Neurol. 158, 295–305 (1974).
Kinston, W. J., Vadas, M. A. & Bishop, P. O. J. comp. Neurol. 136, 295–316 (1969).
Graybiel, A. Brain Res. 114, 318–327 (1976); Nature 272, 539–541 (1978).
Tello, F. Lab. Invest. Biol. Univ. Madrid 3, 39–62 (1904).
Kalil, R. Comp. Neurol. 182, 265–292 (1978).
Hendrickson, A. & Rakic, P. Anat. Rec. 187, 602 (1977).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bowling, D., Michael, C. Projection patterns of single physiologically characterized optic tract fibres in cat. Nature 286, 899–902 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/286899a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/286899a0
This article is cited by
-
The Dorsal Nucleus of the Lateral Geniculate Body: Anatomy, Histology, Ontogenesis
Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology (2023)
-
Trans-synaptic Retrograde Degeneration in the Human Visual System: Slow, Silent, and Real
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports (2017)
-
Selectivity of kainic acid as a neurotoxin within the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat: a model for transneuronal retrograde degeneration
Journal of Neurocytology (1991)
-
Development of X- and Y-cell retinogeniculate terminations in kittens
Nature (1984)
-
Monocular deprivation affects X- and Y-cell retinogeniculate terminations in cats
Nature (1982)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.