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Ganglion cell death during development of ipsilateral retino-collicular projection in golden hamster

Nature volume 308, pages 362–365 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

In rats and hamsters all parts of the superior colliculus (SC) receive a topographically organized projection from the retina of the contralateral eye, and the rostral part also has a direct input from the lower temporal crescent of the ipsilateral retina, which views the central, binocular portion of the visual field1–3. Initially the uncrossed projection covers the entire SC, but over the first 2 weeks of postnatal life it becomes progressively restricted to its adult distribution4. However, if the opposite eye is removed at birth there is a persistent widespread uncrossed projection to the SC5–8. We have used short- and long-term retrogradely transported neuronal markers to examine the distribution and fate of the ganglion cells of origin of the uncrossed retino-collicular projection throughout postnatal development. We conclude that the withdrawal of the early exuberant projection to the caudal SC is associated with death of ganglion cells and their virtual elimination outside the temporal crescent of the ipsilateral retina. Early enucleation of the other eye rescues many of these cells.

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Author notes

  1. R. Insausti: Department of Anatomy, University of Navarra, Spain

  2. Colin Blakemore: University Laboratory of Physiology, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and The Clayton Foundation for Research – California Division, PO Box 85800, San Diego, California, 92138, USA

    R. Insausti, Colin Blakemore & W. M. Cowan

Authors
  1. R. Insausti
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  2. Colin Blakemore
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  3. W. M. Cowan
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Insausti, R., Blakemore, C. & Cowan, W. Ganglion cell death during development of ipsilateral retino-collicular projection in golden hamster. Nature 308, 362–365 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/308362a0

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