The retinal projection to the superior colliculus in the cat: a quantitative study with HRP

The projections of cat retinal ganglion cells to the superior colliculus (SC) were examined using the method of retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Several injections of HRP were made in a single SC after the visual projection to the injection sites had been established physiologically. The HRP injections resulted in a homogeneous distribution of labelled ganglion cells in whole mount preparations of the retinae of both eyes. In the eye contralateral to the injected colliculus, ganglion cells with a crossed projection were labelled in both nasal and temporal retina; in the ipsilateral eye, ganglion cells with uncrossed projection were labelled only in the temporal retina. Analysis of the counterstained retinal whole mounts indicated that at least 50% of all ganglion cells in the nasal retina and 26% in the temporal retina have crossed projection to SC, and that 24% of all ganglion cells of the temporal retina have an uncrossed projection to the SC. The morphological classes of retinal ganglion cells have different patterns of crossed/uncrossed decussation and they participate in varying proportions in the retino-tectal projection. Almost all Alpha cells in the retina send axon collaterals to the SC. Probably only about 10% of the Beta cells project to the SC and at least 80% of all Gamma cells send axons to the SC.