title: Number of axons in the right and left optic nerves of right-pawed and left-pawed rats: a stereologic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the number of axons in the right and left optic nerves of right- and left-pawed rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, optic nerve samples were obtained from right- and left-pawed rats and axon numbers of optic nerves and vice versa were stereologically and histologically evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the right-pawed rats, more axons were found in the right optic nerve than in the left optic nerve, and left-pawed rats had more axons in the left optic nerve than in the right optic nerve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The paw preference is associated with eye dominance and the number of axons in the ipsilateral optic nerve.
authors.affiliation: Beyoğlu State Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Taylan
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Malkoç
authors.forename: B Zuhal
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Altunkaynak
authors.forename: Ali Riza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Erdoğan
authors.forename: M Dumlu
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Senol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dane
authors.forename: Serpil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Can
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gümüştekin
authors.forename: Bünyamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Unal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007839:Functional Laterality; D008297:Male; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley