Open AccessRetinal transplants can drive a pupillary reflex in host rat brains.
Author(s) -
Henry Klassen,
Raymond D. Lund
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.84.19.6958
Subject(s) - reflex , midbrain , retinal , pupillary light reflex , host (biology) , retina , transplantation , optic nerve , pupillary reflex , biology , neuroscience , pupil , ophthalmology , medicine , anatomy , central nervous system , surgery , ecology
Retinae taken from embryonic rats were transplanted over the midbrain of neonatal rats, from whom one eye had been removed. After 5 months, the optic nerve of the remaining eye was cut, and the transplant was exposed. Illumination of the transplant caused pupilloconstriction of the host eye, a response abolished by damaging the transplant. Thus neural transplants are capable of driving specific reflexes in response to natural stimuli.