Morphologic and autoradiographic evidence for a laminated pretectal olivary nucleus in the squirrel monkey

The pretectal olivary nucleus of the squirrel monkey was examined in both normal and autoradiographic material. In the Nissl- and fiber-stained tissue the nucleus appears as a laminated structure. The distribution of retinal terminals within the nucleus was examined by the autoradiographic tracing method. These data reveal denser projection to the contralateral pretectal olivary nucleus. When comparing the distribution of the silver grains bilaterally, the pattern of transported label appears to be partially nonoverlapping.