Retinal projections to the acessorx optic system in pigmented and albino ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)
C. Distler, H. Korbmacher & K.-P. Hoffmann
Exp. Brain Res. In press
- We investigated if a reduced specificity of the retinal projection to the accessory optic system might be responsible
for the loss of direction selectivity in the nucleus of the optic tract and dorsal terminal nucleus (NOT-DTN) and,
in consequence of this, the optokinetic deficits in albino ferrets. Under electrophysiological control we performed
dual tracer injections into the NOT-DTN and the medial terminal nucleus (MTN). Retrogradely labelled ganglion cells
were found in the visual streak, the dorsal, and the ventral retina both after injections into the NOT-DTN and
the MTN indicating that both nuclei receive input from the same retinal regions. The distribution and spacing of
labelled ganglion cells did not differ between pigmented and albino ferrets. However, retinal ganglion cells projecting
simultaneously to both the NOT-DTN and the MTN occurred only in albino ferrets. These results suggest that a reduced
specificity of the projection pattern of direction specific ganglio
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