Organisation of the tectorotundal and SP/IPS-rotundal projections in the chick

The organisation of the neural projections from the optic tectum and pretectal nuclei complex, n. subpretectalis / n. interstitio-pretecto-subpretectalis (SP/IPS), to the nucleus rotundus (Rt) in chicks was studied by using retrograde tracing techniques. After the injection of fluorescent retrograde tracers, rhodamine-conjugated latex microspheres, fluorescein-conjugated latex microspheres, True Blue, Fluoro-Gold, or rhodamine B isothiocyanate, into different regions of Rt and its middorsal extension, the nucleus triangularis (T), the distribution of retrogradely labelled neuronal cell bodies in the tectum and pretectal nuclei was assessed. Both the ipsilateral and contralateral tectorotundal projections were found to be organised topographically in as much as different sublaminas of the stratum griseum centrale (SGC) project in an orderly manner to Rt and T. The deepest stratum of SGC overlapping into the stratum album centrale projects to T. Deep SGC projects to the dorsal Rt and superficial SGC to the ventral Rt. A band running through the centre of Rt receives input from the central sublamina of SGC, and the caudal central Rt receives input from a deeper sublamina than does the rostral central Rt. The SP/IPS projects to the ipsilateral Rt only and the projection order is dorsal SP to dorsal Rt, ventral SP to ventral Rt and middle SP to the central band of Rt. The neurones in IPS and the nucleus of the tractus tectothalamicus project to T. Thus, Rt and T receive topographically both tecto- (excitatory) and SP/IPS- (inhibitory) projections. The possible functional implications for parallel information processing in these projections are discussed.