title: Interspecific variation of isthmo-optic projections in poikilothermic vertebrates.
abstract: Retinopetal projections from isthmic and caudal mesencephalic regions were studied in a number of poikilothermic vertebrates. The tested animals were elasmobranchs, bony fishes, amphibians, and reptiles. Isthmo-optic projections were absent in elasmobranchs, sturgeons, most teleosts, all anuran and urodel amphibians, and in anolis lizards. Tegmental projections to the retina were found in a few fishes and in most reptiles. Interspecific variations regarding three morphological parameters were as follows: (i) isthmic projections to the contralateral eye originate from one or from two distinct nuclei; (ii) major interspecific differences exist regarding numbers and aggregation densities of cells in the nuclei of origin; (iii) the percentage of retinopetal fibres that innervate the ipsilateral retina varies significantly between species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroanatomy, School of Medicine, University of Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Malz
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D001370:Axonal Transport; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007839:Functional Laterality; D008116:Lizards; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D012104:Reptiles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012160:Retina; D013045:Species Specificity; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology*