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Xenoplastic eye transplantation between chick and quail embryos: Some neuroanatomical and functional aspects
Author(s) -
Heaton Marieta Barrow
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.901510405
Subject(s) - quail , precocial , biology , bobwhite quail , transplantation , pupillary light reflex , reflex , anatomy , optic tract , optic nerve , neuroscience , surgery , pupil , medicine , endocrinology , paleontology
Xenoplastic eye exchanges were made between domestic chick and Bobwhite quail embryos, using microsurgical techniques at early stage 11. Donor (quail) eyes were found to be incorporated in 78% of the operations, and it was suggested that an optimal period (late stage 10 ‐ early stage 11, approximately 10.3 somites) exists, during which transplantation of these organs may be maximally successful. The majority of the transplanted eyes appeared normal, and histological examination revealed normally decussating and ingrowing optic nerves which formed normal appearing optic tracts and found terminations within the contralateral tecta. Inspection of donor retinae and the isthmo‐optic nuclei contralateral to the transplant, both known to undergo cellular degeneration in the absence of their appropriate projection fields, showed normal cellular complements and organization in most cases. Functional capacities of the transplanted eyes were assessed by viewing the pupillary light reflex. This test indicated that functional connections were made, at least as far as mesencephalic centers, with the latencies of and threshold intensities for elicitation of the reflex virtually identical in normal and transplanted eyes. The latencies of the reflex virtually identical in normal and transplanted eyes. The latencies of the donor (quail) eyes were considerably shorter than those usually found in these embryos at the age viewed. Some form of host induction of precocial responsiveness is discussed in this connection.