Interspecific variation in the chelonian primary visual system.

The primary visual system of 21 species of turtles, distributed among nine of the existing 12 families, were studied by autoradiography. In all species, contralateral visual projections exist to 15 targets: two hypothalamic structures (nucleus suprachiasmaticus and n. periventricularis), three major thalamic visual centres (nucleus ovalis, n. geniculatus lateralis ventralis and n. geniculatus lateralis dorsalis) and two minor thalamic targets (nucleus dorsolateralis anterior and n. ventrolateralis), five pretectal sites (nucleus geniculatus pretectalis, n. opticus pretectalis ventrolateralis, n. lentiformis mesencephali, n. posterodorsalis and n. griseus tectalis), two strata of the optic tectum (stratum opticum and s. fibrosum et griseum superficiale), and a single tegmental target (nucleus opticus tegmenti). In contrast to the stability of contralateral visual projections, their ipsilateral counterparts varied considerably between species, being limited to the hypothalamus in some species, and involving the majority of the primary visual centres in others. This variation is not readily explainable in terms of taxonomic position or of differences in mode of life.

The embryological development of primary visual centres in the turtle Emys orbicularis.

The development of the primary visual centres was studied in a series of embryos of the turtle, Emys orbicularis, incubated at 25 degrees C. The differentiation of both visual and nonvisual diencephalic and mesencephalic structures takes place entirely within the 2nd quarter of the period of incubation; this finding appears to be consistent with previous descriptions of the embryology of 2 other chelonian species, Lepidochelys and Chelydra. Two successive waves of migration, each dividing into internal and external sheaves, are involved in the formation of the structures of the diencephalon and mesencephalon. The primary visual centres, which comprise 2 hypothalamic, 5 thalamic and 5 pretectal zones of retinal projections, together with the 2 superficial layers of the tectum and a single tegmental projection zone, all have their origin in the external sheaf of the 1st wave of migration. The finding that the adult nucleus geniculatus lateralis dorsalis, pars ventralis arises from one of the migrations of the dorsal thalamus is discussed in the context of the debate over the possible homologues of the mammalian geniculostriate visual pathway.

A reconsideration of the primary visual system of the turtle Emys orbicularis.

The retinocerebral projections of Emys orbicularis were investigated by means of [3H]-proline or HRP, administered by intraocular injection. Two newly-hatched, two juvenile and seven adult specimens were examined. The results reveal contralateral retinal projections to fifteen sites: two in the hypothalamus (the nuclei suprachiasmaticus and periventricularis), five in the thalamus (the nuclei ovalis, geniculatus lateralis ventralis, geniculatus laleralis dorsalis, dorsolateralis anterior and ventrolateralis), five in the pretectal region (the nuclei geniculatus pretectalis, opticus pretectalis ventrolateralis, lentiformis mesencephali, posterodorsalis and griseus tectalis), two in the optic tectum (the stratum opticum and the stratum fibrosum et griseum superficiale), and one in the tegmentum (the nucleus opticus tegmenti). Ipsilateral projections to nine of these sites at thalamic, pretectal, tectal and tegmental levels, while weak, could be clearly demonstrated. These results differ considerably from those obtained in a previous investigation using a Nauta-paraffin technique; it is suggested that the differences are due to limitations of the latter technique. A review of the existing literature on the Chelonian primary visual system reveals considerable terminological diversity, and a standard nomenclature for the primary visual centres of turtles is proposed.