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Two morphologically different types of retinal axon terminals in the rat's dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and their relationships to the X- and Y-channel

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Summary

In the rat's dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) two types of retino-geniculate axon terminals have been visualized electron microscopically in adult and juvenile material as well as in Golgi-Kopsch and Golgi-Rapid impregnated sections. The two types differ in size and number of boutons. 2a-terminals have large, sparse boutons, mainly connected with branching zones of geniculo-cortical relay cells (GCR cells). 2b-terminals bear numerous small boutons forming simple contacts with more distal segments of GCR cell dendrites. We are not able to give any information about participation of either type in complex synaptic zones.

After horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injection in the superior colliculus optic tract fibres and lateral fibre bundles in the dLGN are labelled with reaction product. Besides these tracts the terminal branching zones of retino-tectal fibre collaterals in the dLGN also show reaction product. As a result of the good visualization of these retinal terminals by the HRP-method they are identified as 2a-terminals. We conclude that 2a-terminals may represent the Y-channel projecting from the retina to both the superior colliculus and the dLGN.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Paul-Flechsig-Institute of Brain Research, Department of Neuroanatomy, Karl-Marx-University, Emilienstr. 14, DDR-7010, Leipzig, German Democratic Republic

    K. Brauer, W. Schober & E. Winkelmann

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  1. K. Brauer
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  2. W. Schober
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  3. E. Winkelmann
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Sponsored by a Grant of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the German Democratic Republic

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Brauer, K., Schober, W. & Winkelmann, E. Two morphologically different types of retinal axon terminals in the rat's dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and their relationships to the X- and Y-channel. Exp Brain Res 36, 523–532 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238520

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