Anomalous ipsilateral optic fibre projection in Xenopus induced by larval tectal ablation

Unilateral left tectal ablation was carried out in Xenopus between stage 48 and 1 month after metamorphosis. Six to 12 weeks after metamorphosis the retinal projection from the right eye was examined with the use of [3H]proline autoradiography. The autoradiographs indicated that optic fibres whose tectal target was destroyed recrossed to the ipsilateral tectum and basal optic nucleus via the posterior and pretectal commissures. No anomalous recrossing occurred if the tectal ablation was carried out at stage 58 or later. The aberrant optic fibres were restricted to the rostrolateral and central parts of the ipsilateral tectum and they terminated in a discontinuous manner. It is concluded that available surfaces serving as contact guidance cues are needed to direct aberrant optic fibres to the ipsilateral tectum.