Anatomical studies on the optic chiasma in the Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The optic chiasma of the buffalo was a transversely oval body, averaging 9.0 +/- 0.89 X 12.3 +/- 0.48 X 5.0 +/- 0.48 mm. Its shape was like a letter "X". This was located 2--3 mm cranial to the pituitary. Following unilateral enucleation, the degenerating myelinated fibres were noted throughout the optic chiasma, and in both the optic tracts. The degeneration in the contralateral optic tract was more dense. By enumerating the degenerating fibres in the remnant optic nerve, in the ipsilateral and contralateral optic tracts it was noted that 57.34% of the optic nerve fibres crossed over and only 12.29% of the fibres remained uncrossed.