[Retinotopic projections of the trout (Salmo gairdneri)]

The retinotopic organization of the thalamic and tectal and visual centres was studied by Fink and Heimer method and radioautography. Quadratic lesions were achieved in the right retina of 21 adult trouts and 23 six month old specimens. Fourteen animals (adults) were kept alive for 20 to 25 days after operation, in running water at 13 degrees C and prepared for the Fink technique. In the remaining 7 adults and in the 23 six month specimens, we injected, 48 hours after the lesion, respectively, 2,5 microCi (in 20 microliters) and 0,5 microCi (in 1 microliter) of 14 C proline into the operated eye. The brains were prepared for radioautography. Results show that the thalamic pathways is not correlated with a peculiar quadrant. Nevertheless the temporo dorsal hemiretina sends the more numerous projections at this level. A topographic parallelism exists between retino-geniculate and retino-tectal projections. At the tectal level our data are somewhat at variance with those of electrophysiological mapping, since quadratic projections show a partial overlapping. In the optic tract, the fibres from every quadrant follow always the same pathway.