Projection of the retinal ganglion cells to the tectum differentiated from the prosencephalon

The alar plate of the prosencephalon differentiates into a tectum-like structure when transplanted into the mesencephalon around the 10-somite stage. Here, we report on the projection pattern of the retinal ganglion cells to the transplants. Optic nerve fibers were labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and 3H-proline, and the innervation of the optic nerve fibers to the chimeric tectum was analyzed by HRP histochemistry on whole-mounted specimens, by autoradiography and by electron microscopy on embryonic day 16. In the chimeric tectum, the transplant was distinguished from the host by difference in nuclear structure between the quail and the chick cells. It was shown that the transplant had the laminar pattern of the optic tectum when the transplant was integrated into the host mesencephalon. The whole-mount HRP histochemistry showed that the optic nerve fibers extend to the transplants. Autoradiography showed that the distribution pattern of silver grains was similar in both the host and the transplant. These results may indicate that the optic nerve fibers turn to the transplant and terminate on the transplant. Electron microscopy further confirmed that optic nerve fibers ended by making synaptic contacts with the dendrites in the transplant region of the tectum. These results indicate that the transplant with the laminar pattern of the optic tectum is a true tectum receiving input from the eye.