Use of a lectin-peroxidase conjugate (WGA-HRP) to assess the retinotopic precision of goldfish optic terminals.
The lectin wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA), conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP), is an effective tracer for goldfish optic axons. Under suitable conditions, WGA-HRP injected iontophoretically into the normal goldfish tectum is taken up by retinotopic optic terminals (but not by axons of passage) and labels a small, discoid patch of retinal ganglion cells. Under identical conditions, unconjugated HRP is mainly taken up by injured axons of passage. WGA-HRP injected into the tectum after regeneration of the contralateral optic nerve again labels a small patch of ganglion cells, demonstrating the extent to which regenerated terminals are also retinotopic.
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006054:Goldfish; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D037102:Lectins; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins
D037102:Lectins; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase