Thy-1 expression in the retinotectal system of the chick

Previous investigations into the occurrence of Thy-1 in the chick retina have not clearly defined when the antigen first appears and have not adequately described its expression during the relatively early phases of retinal ontogeny. We have investigated these issues, using improved immunohistochemical procedures and show that Thy-1 is associated with the retinal ganglion cells from the time they begin to differentiate by extending their axonal projections. In addition, we have found that its expression reflects the growth of the optic fibre layer and the elaboration of the ganglion cell dendritic processes into the inner plexiform layer. For the first time we describe the appearance and the developmental expression of Thy-1 in the chick tectum. We have found that Thy-1 is associated with retinal axons from the time of their arrival at the tectum and that its expression reflects the elaboration of the stratum opticum. Within the tectum proper Thy-1 appears first in 3 distinct layers all of which are plexiform in nature. By the time that tectal histogenesis is essentially complete the antigen is expressed by all the layers of the tectum. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the development of the individual tissues and with respect to the elaboration of the retinotectal pathway.