Primary projections of the trigeminal nerve in two species of sturgeon: Acipenser oxyrhynchus and Scaphirhynchus platorynchus

Horseradish peroxidase histochemical studies of afferent and efferent projections of the trigeminal nerve in two species of chondrostean fishes revealed medial, descending and ascending projections. Entering fibers of the trigeminal sensory root project medially to terminate in the medial trigeminal nucleus, located along the medial wall of the rostral medulla. Other entering sensory fibers turn caudally within the medulla, forming the trigeminal spinal tract, and terminate within the descending trigeminal nucleus. The descending trigeminal nucleus consists of dorsal (DTNd) and ventral (DTNv) components. Fibers of the trigeminal spinal tract descend through the lateral alar medulla and into the dorsolateral cervical spinal cord. Fibers exit the spinal tract throughout its length, projecting to the ventral descending trigeminal nucleus (DTNv) in the medulla and to the funicular nucleus at the obex. Retrograde transport of HRP through sensory root fibers also revealed an ascending bundle of fibers that constitutes the neurites of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus, cell bodies of which are located in the rostral optic tectum. Retrograde transport of HRP through motor root fibers labeled ipsilateral cells of the trigeminal motor nucleus, located in the rostral branchiomeric motor column.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/50279/1/1051820202_ftp.pd

Pursuit eye movements in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Pursuit eye movements made by goldfish were investigated with an optical technique in which the horizontal orientations of both eyes were measured automatically. Moving targets were provided by: 1. (1) a striped drum which rotated about the vertical axis concentrically with the animal's head, and2. (2) tangent screens on either side. Movement seen by either eye alone caused both to move, but the response was greater when both viewed the drum. The angular velocities of the eyes were always less than that of the drum. The ocular velocity depended upon the velocity, area, and contrast of the target, over wide ranges, and upon the state of adaptation and the recent history of the visual system. Evidence is offered supporting the hypothesis that the pursuit movements are controlled by directionally-selective movement-sensitive retinal ganglion cells.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34131/1/0000415.pd

A COMPARISON OF CHOLINESTERASE DISTRIBUTION IN THE CEREBELLUM OF SEVERAL SPECIES *

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65142/1/j.1471-4159.1964.tb06717.x.pd

Glutamic acid-insensitive [3H]kainic acid binding in goldfish brain

Kainic acid is supposed to be a specific agonist for a subclass of excitatory glutamate receptors in the vertebrate CNS. An investigation of (2 nM) [3H]kainic acid binding sites in goldfish brain, using quantitative autoradiography, has revealed evidence for two types of kainic acid receptors which differ in sensitivity to glutamic acid. -Glutamic acid (0.1-1 mM) displaced over 95% of specific [3H]kainic acid binding elsewhere in the brain but only 10-50% in the cerebellum and cerebellar crest. These structures apparently contain [3H]kainic acid binding sites that are extremely insensitive to glutamic acid. The glutamic acid-insensitive [3H]kainic acid bindings was not displaced by quisqualic acid kynurenic acid, [alpha]-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), or , but was completely displaced by the kainic acid analogue domoic acid. The data indicate that two types of high affinity binding sites for [3H]kainic acid exist in the goldfish brain: glutamic acid-sensitive and glutamic acid-insensitive. High affinity [3H]kainic acid binding may therefore not always represent binding to subsets of glutamic acid receptors.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/30240/1/0000634.pd

The distribution of enkephalinlike immunoreactivity in the telencephalon of the adult and developing domestic chicken

Immunohistochemical techniques were used to determine the distribution of enkephalinlike immunoreactivity in the telencephalon of chicken. The densest accumulation of enkephalinergic neurons and fibers was observed within the paleostriatal complex, the avian equivalent of the mammalian basal ganglia. Numerous small enkephalinergic neurons were observed in both lobus parolfactorius (LPO) and the paleostriatum augmentatum (PA), the two components of the small-celled portion of the paleostriatal complex. The enkephalinergic neurons of LPO-PA appeared to give rise to a dense plexus of enkephalinergic fibers within the large-celled zone of the paleostriatal complex, the paleostriatum primitivum (PP). The distribution of enkephalin within the avian paleostriatial complex, when compared to the distribution of enkephalin within the mammalian basal ganglia, supports previous proposals that PP is comparable to the mammalian globus pallidus and that PA-LPO are comparable to the caudate-putamen (Karten and Dubbeldam, '73; Kitt and Brauth, '81; Parent and Olivier, '70; Reiner et al., '83). Observations on the development of enkephalinlike immunoreactivity within the chicken paleostriatal complex also support the suggestion that the major component nuclei of the avian paleostriatal complex have correspondents within the mammalian basal ganglia. Enkephalinlike immunoreactivity was also observed within cell bodies and fibers in other portions of the avian telencephalon. Within the ventrolateral telencephalon, the nucleus accumbens, nucleus of the diagonal band, and tuberculum olfactorium contained enkephalinergic cell bodies and fibers while only enkephalinergic fibers were observed in the portion of the avian telencephalon that has been termed the ventral paleostriatum (Kitt and Brauth, '81; Reiner et al., '83). Within the medial wall of the telencephalon, enkephalinergic fibers were observed in the lateral septal nucleus, while enkephalinergic cell bodies and fibers were observed in the parahippocampal area. Little enkephalinlike immunoreactivity was observed dorsal to the paleostriatal complex except in the hyperstriatum dorsale. Within the hyperstriatum dorsale, a band of enkephalinergic neurons appeared to give rise to an overlying parallel band of dense enkephalinergic fibers. The distribution of enkephalinlike immunoreactivity within the avian telencephalon thus shows remarkable similarity to that seen in the mammalian telencephalon. The largest accumulation of enkephalinlike immunoreactivity within the telencephalon of both vertebrate classes appears to be found within the ventrolateral wall of the telencephalon, including the basal ganglia. In comparison, much less enkephalinlike immunoreactivity is observed in either the mammalian neocortex or in the avian correspondent of mammalian neocortex.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/50024/1/902280210_ftp.pd

STAGES IN THE ORIGIN OF VERTEBRATES: ANALYSIS BY MEANS OF SCENARIOS

Vertebrates lack an epidermal nerve plexus. This feature is common to many invertebrates from which vertebrates differ by an extensive set of shared-derived characters (synapomorphies) derived from the neural crest and epidermal neurogenic placodes. Hence, the hypothesis that the developmental precursor of the epidermal nerve plexus may be homologous to the neural crest and epidermal neurogenic placodes. This account attempts to generate a nested set of scenarios for the prevertebrate-vertebrate transition, associating a presumed sequence of behavioural and environmental changes with the observed phenotypic ones. Toward this end, it integrates morphological, developmental, functional (physiological/behavioural) and some ecological data, as many phenotypic shifts apparently involved associated transitions in several aspects of the animals. The scenarios deal with the origin of embryonic and adult tissues and such major organs as the notochord, the CNS, gills and kidneys and propose a sequence of associated changes. Alternative scenarios are stated as the evidence often remains insufficient for decision. The analysis points to gaps in comprehension of the biology of the animals and therefore suggests further research.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72629/1/j.1469-185X.1989.tb00471.x.pd