Retinal projections in lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis)

Visual projections in lamprey were investigated using two methods,--one by revealing transport of horseradish peroxidase, and the other by silver impregnation of degenerating axons and terminals after enucleation of the eye. Both methods produced similar results. The chiasm showed incomplete crossing of retinal fibres, the major part of which, as an optic tract, proceed along the contralateral thalamus up to the entry into the optic tectum, while the smaller part takes the same course on the ipsilateral side. Besides, from the posterior part of the optic chiasm an axial optic tract branches off, which proceeds through the central part of the contralateral thalamus up to the pretectal nucleus, individual fibres of which enter the central grey layer of the optic tectum. On the contralateral side, the visual projections are localized in the lateral geniculate body, pretectal nucleus, in the three upper layers of the optic tectum, in the ventrolateral area of the optic tectum and as solitary diffuse projections in the mesencephalic tegmentum. Innervation of thalamic and pretectal nuclei are realized by two tracts--the tractus opticus proper, and tractus opticus axialis. On the ipsilateral side visual projections, excepting the optic tract, are scarce and in the thalamus appear as small areas of the lateral geniculate body and pretectum adjacent to the optic tract. Solitary visual projections were found in two upper layers of the rostral optic tectum and in larger numbers in the 3rd and 4th layers of the caudal part and in ventrolateral area of the optic tectum. Projections in mesencephalic tegmentum were single. Diffuse visual projections in the lateral part of hypothalamus could be revealed only by the silver impregnation method. Using the peroxidase method two types of cells were observed in mesencephalic tegmentum where, possibly, the centrifugal fibres proceeding to retina, originate. A comparison is made of central visual projections in lampreys and other representatives of nonmammalian vertebrates.