An autoradiographic and electron microscopic study of retino-hypothalamic connections

Pineal N-acetyltransferase and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase: control by the retinohypothalamic tract and the suprachiasmatic nucleus

The visual pathway and central neural structures involved in the photic and endogenous regulation of the activity of pineal N-acetyltransferase and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase were investigated. The results indicate that the visual pathway regulating both enzymes is the retinohypothalamic tract, and that the inferior accessory optic tract is clearly not involved in the regulation of hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activity, as has been previously thought. In addition, the suprachiasmatic nucleus was found to be necessary for the generation of a rhythm in N-acetyltransferase activity in blinded animals, and to be responsible for the tonic elevation of hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activity in blinded animals. Finally, it was concluded that the rapid and large daily changes in N-acetyltransferase activity seen in a normal lighting cycle and the much slower and smaller changes in hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activity seen only after weeks in constant lighting conditions are mediated by the same neural tract; the different time courses of the effects of environmental lighting may be explained on the basis of different intracellular regulatory mechanisms.

A cerebello-pulvino-cortical and a retino-pulvino-cortical pathways in the cat as revealed by the use of the anterograde and retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase

A cerebello-pulvino-cortical and a retino-pulvino-cortical pathways were revealed in the cat by means of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method. The sites of termination of the cerebellofugal and retinofugal fibers in the pulvinar nucleus (Pul) were visualized by the use of the anterograde transport of HRP. The cerebello-pulvinar fibers were found to arise mainly from the parvicellular region of the lateral cerebellar nucleus and to terminate contralaterally in a narrow area at the extreme dorsolateral edge of the Pul at the level of the stereotaxic frontal plane A-7.0. The area of terminal ramification of retino-pulvinar fibers was seen as a thin sheet lying at the extreme lateral edge of the Pul through most of the rostrocaudal extent of the Pul, bilaterally with contralateral predominance. The cerebellorecipient area in the Pul did not seem to overlap with the retinorecipient Pul area; the former appeared to be contiguous ventrolaterally to the latter. The cerebellorecipient and retinorecipient Pul areas were also observed to be connected reciprocally with the cerebral cortical areas; the former was connected with the most posterior part of the area 20, and the latter with the area 19.

Suprachiasmatic nucleus neurones: excitation and inhibition mediated by the direct retino-hypothalamic projection in female rats

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of female rats was surveyed with microelectrodes under urethane anaesthesia. In rats with bilateral transection of the optic tracts, repetitive three pulses of 100 Hz applied to the contralateral optic nerve excited 8 and inhibited 11 other of the 86 SCN units examined. Transection of the optic tract did not significantly influence frequency of occurrence of the SCN units that were excited or inhibited by stimulation of the optic nerve. Certain SCN units responded to both of contralateral and ipsilateral stimulations of the optic nerve, indicating that bilateral visual inputs converge on the same single SCN neurones. Oscillatory responses with a period of 100--200 msec were occasionally produced by stimulation of the optic nerve. Flash stimuli with relatively weak intensity, even insufficient for producing wavelets in electroretinograms, produced an excitation and inhibition in SCN units. The mean firing rates were significantly altered by either electrical or flash stimuli repeated 500 times at 0.97 Hz in those units which showed no transitory response. Some of the SCN neurones receiving visual inputs were identified to be the tuberoinfundibular neurone and some other SCN neurones were found to receive converging inputs both from the optic nerve and from the axon collaterals of tuberoinfundibular neurones.

A route for direct retinal input to the preoptic hypothalamus: dendritic projections into the optic chiasm

With the use of Golgi, horseradish peroxidase, and electron microscopic techniques, neurons within a broad region of the preoptic hypothalamus of the mouse were shown to have dendrites that projected well into the depths of the optic chiasm. Further experimental and ultrastructural investigation demonstrated synapses between these dendrites and retinal axonal boutons within the chiasm. All synapses located in the chiasm were classified as Gray's type I. The possible function of these dendritic projections is discussed.

Dissociation of spontaneous and mating induced ovulation by frontal hypothalamic deafferentations in the rat

Different types of anterior hypothalamic deafferentations have been used to investigate the nervous pathways involved in spontaneous and mating-induced ovulation in the rat. Knife cuts which circumscribed the suprachiasmatic nuclei on all but their ventral surface and either their rostral or caudal poles prevented spontaneous ovulation, but the rats were sexually receptive (copulation plugs and sperm in the smear), and mating induced ovulation. Similar types of cut extended dorsally so as to sever the continuity between the preoptic area and the mediobasal hypothalamus also prevented spontaneous ovulation, and although these rats were also receptive, mating did not induce ovulation. Two possible explanations are considered: either (i) that difference between the effects of the two types of cut is a direct function of the differing proportions of gonadotrophic hormone-containing axons severed, or (ii) cuts in the region of the suprachiasmatic nuclei specifically impair a mechanism for the maintenance of diurnal rhythms, to which the abnormality in gonadotrophin control is secondary.

Retinohypothalamic tract development: alteration by suprachiasmatic lesions in the neonatal rat

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the terminal nucleus of the retinohypothalamic (RH) tract, was ablated electrolytically in 2-day-old rats. Since previous studies have demonstrated that the earliest retinal fibers arrive on postnatal day 3 to 4 (refs. 4, 17), the lesions were inflicted prior to the formation of retinal connections. At day 25, [3H]proline was injected into the eye and autoradiography performed to determine if developing RH fibers would exhibit plasticity and innervate any hypothalamic nucleus other than the SCN. No evidence was found for the formation of anomalous retinal connections after complete, bilateral SCN lesions. Incomplete lesions, however, result in some alteration in the distribution of retinal fibers to the SCN. If a part of the caudal three-quarters of the SCN remains, RH projections form in a pattern dependent upon the size and location of the intact SCN fragment. These results indicate a high degree of specificity in developing RH fibers for their normal target tissue and a minimal capacity for plasticity in contrast with the various forms of neuronal reorganization observed after early destruction of other components of the visual system.

Synapses of optic nerve afferents in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus. I. Identification, qualitative description, development and distribution

Synapses of optic nerve afferents (optic synapses) in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) have been identified ultrastructurally. They are easily distinguished from other types of synapses. The optic boutons are characterized by the presence of large mitochondria with a swollen electron lucent matrix and an interconnected tubular system formed by their inner membrane. Other, more variable features include: 1) a scattered pattern of synaptic vesicles which are found throughout the entire presynaptic element with relatively little accumulation near the active zones; 2) the occurrence of dense core vesicles and glycogen granules; 3) the active zones, the majority of which is Gray-type I, but a minority can obviously be classified as Gray's type II; 4) the innervation of smaller peripheral dendrites and dendritic spines. Boutons of this kind are exclusively filled with anterogradely transported horseradish peroxidase injected into both eyes. Very few neuronal elements containing the typical mitochondria have been observed in the SCN on the 6th day post partum, increasingly more on the 9th and 12th day, but considerably higher numbers after opening of the eyes on the 17th and the following days. The location of normal and degenerating optic boutons was examined light- and electron microscopically. In the rostral third of the SCN there are relatively few optic synapses which are found close to the optic chiasma. In the middle portion of the SCN optic synapses increase in number; they are found not only in the ventral part of the nucleus but also in lateral regions. This becomes particularly obvious in the caudal third of the SCN.

Suprachiasmatic nucleus responsiveness to photic and basal hypothalamic stimulation

In view of the demonstrated role of light and of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the maintenance of circadian rhythms related to endocrine functions and as the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) controls neuroendocrine activity, the effects of light and MBH stimulation on the electrical activity of SCN neurons were studied in rats. Out of 253 cells studied in the SCN, 32 cells were antidromically activated, while 65 cells responded orthodromically to MBH stimulation. In another series of experiments out of 95 suprachiasmatic neurons, 11 were antidromically activated by MBH stimulation and 18 different SCN cells responded to continuous light. The present data, which demonstrate photic responses in suprachiasmatic neurons and direct projections from the SCN to MBH, are discussed in view of the current knowledge on the role of the retinohypothalamic tract and the SCN in the control of circadian rhythms.

An autoradiographic study of the projections of visual cortical area 1 to the thalamus, pretectum and superior colliculus of the rabbit

The projections of visual cortical area 1 (vl) to the thalamus, pretectum and superior colliculus of the rabbit have been studied by Giolli and Guthrie ('67, '71) using the Nauta and Fink-Heimer methods to determine the course and distribution of degenerating nerve fibers. The present study represents a reinvestigation of these same projections utilizing the tracing method of autoradiography. An injection of 3H leucine was produced within a small region of vl in each of 18 adult albino rabbits, and the brains were subsequently processed for autoradiography by the method of Cowan et al. ('72). The results have confirmed the observations of Giolli and Guthrie ('67, '71) (1) by showing that vl of the rabbit projects to the thalamic reticular nucleus, the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus; the pulvinar, the anterior and posterior pretectal nuclei and the superior colliculus and (2) by showing that a particular retinotopic organization is present in each of these projections. However, unlike Giolli and Guthrie ('67, '71), the present autoradiographic study has further revealed (1) that both the ventrolateral and the posterior thalamic nuclei receive inputs from vl and (2) that the nucleus of the optic tract is not innervated by axons originating from vl.

Projections to the inferior olive of the cat. II. Comparisons of input from the gracile, cuneate and the spinal trigeminal nuclei

The present experiments compared the projections to the inferior olive of the cat from the gracile, cuneate and spinal trigeminal nuclei. A differential labeling strategy was used for these comparisons. It was found that all three somatic sensory nuclei project to portions of all three major divisions of the contralateral inferior olive. The spinal trigeminal n. may also project less densely to the ipsilateral medial accessory olive. Projections to the dorsal accessory nucleus (DAO) and the medially-adjacent ventral lamella of the principal nucleus are roughly somatotopically organized. Although there is considerable overlap between the projection zones, the gracile n. projects predominantly to lateral DAO, the cuneate n. projects predominantly to medial DAO, and the spinal trigeminal nucleus pars caudalis projects predominantly to the most medial portions of DAO and the ventral lamella of principal olive. Projections to the medial accessory olive, on the other hand, are not as highly organized. Instead, they overlap extensively within a small egg-shaped area in the middle of the caudal half of the nucleus. Whereas all portions of the gracile and cuneate nuclei project to the inferior olive, only the pars caudalis of the spinal trigeminal nucleus appears to do so. These results were compared with the three available olivocerebellar maps as well as with the available behavioral and electrophysiological evidence on cerebellar somatotopic organization. This comparison indicated that the inputs to the cerebellum from the three second-order somatosensory nuclei via the inferior olive appear to be generally consistent with cerebellar somatotopic organization. This consistency is apparent not only with respect to the longitudinally-organized, vermal and paravermal differences in the anterior lobe, but also with respect to the transversely-organized specific somatotopy of the intermediate zone of the anterior lobe and the paramedian lobule.

A study on the postulated transoptic regulation of the intraocular pressure

The possibility that fibers regulating the intraocular pressure originate in the hypothalamus and course in the optic nerve, has been investigated in albino rabbits with different techniques. By means of horseradish perixodase tracing-technique, oculohypothalamic but no hypothalamoocular connections were observed. The water-loading effect on the intraocular pressure was studied after unilateral optic nerve transection. The transection was performed in three experimental groups in the following way: Intracranial transection of one optic nerve, retrobulbar transection of one optic nerve and sham operation on the other side, retrobulbar transection of one optic nerve without sham operation on the other side. In contrast to previous reports, we found no significant side difference in intraocular pressure after water-loading in any of these groups.

The damaging effects of light on the retina. Empirical findings, theoretical and practical implications

Light well below the intensity which causes thermal burns physiologically damages the retina. This damage is primarily localized in the receptors. The outer segments are most sensitive and slow recovery is possible if damage does not proceed to destruction of the inner segment. Many variables affect the extent and severity of light damage. Damage is correlated with continuity of source, light intensity, elevated body temperature, nocturnality, and albinism. Light damage has been considered only minimally in visual research with light preferences, reinforcement and discrimination, or in clinical settings. Based on the available evidence, it is suggested that retinal damage may be produced by such common light sources as room lighting, phototherapy techniques, ophthalmoscopes and fundus cameras. Further studies are recommended.

Abnormal development of the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus in a strain of genetically anophthalmic mice

In the anophthalmic mutant of the mouse the optic primordia are "genetically enucleated" well before the usual emergence of retinal ganglion cell axons (Silver and Hughes, '74). In eyeless animals, a portion of the mediobasal hypothalamus and one of its constituent nuclear pairs, nucleus suprachiasmaticus (SCN), were markedly abnormal in the embryo and adult. It has been reported that the ventral portion of the SCN receives a substantial, direct retinal innervation (Moore and Lenn, '72) and that these nuclei may mediate several light-induced hormonal and behavioral circadian rhythms (Stetson and Whitmyre, '76). During day 13 of mutant embryogenesis, just prior to the time of optic chiasm formation in normal animals, a large portion of ependyma and adjacent brain tissue herniated into the lumen of the would-be suprachiasmatic region of the third ventricle. In 70% of the animals examined histologically during the latter phase of development and as adults, regulation occurred and the brains were largely comparable with those of controls. However, in the remaining mutant mice, the overall size of either, or sometimse both, SCN was much reduced. The basal (but not the apical) dendrites of SCN neurons failed to develop fully. Some basal dendrites normally invade the optic chiasm below. In several mutant animals one or the other SCN had greatly increased numbers of cells, while the contralateral one had diminished numbers. These observations suggest that regular formation of the suprachiasmatic region of the hypothalamus and especially the suprachiasmatic nuclei, may depend during development upon the presence of the eye or the subjacent optic axons.

The 'suprachiasmatic syndrome': endocrine and behavioural abnormalities following lesions of the suprachiasmatic nuclei in the female rat

Lesions of the suprachiasmatic nuclei that caused failure of spontaneous ovulation in female rats consistently produced abnormalities in other functions that are normally influenced by the light-dark cycle. In such animals morning plasma corticosterone concentrations were abnormally high and evening values abnormally low though the response to stress was unaffected. Pineal serotonin N -acetyl transferase activity was abnormally high in animals killed during the day and abnormally low in those killed at night. Although the animals were in persistent be­havioural oestrus, total voluntary wheel-running activity was not con­sistently altered but was distributed evenly between the light and dark periods rather than being confined principally to the dark periods as in normal animals. Similarly the proportion of the daily water and food intake that occurred during the dark period was reduced. The incidence of these associated abnormalities was low in lesioned rats that continued to ovulate spontaneously.

Suprachiasmatic nuclear lesions do not abolish food-shifted circadian adrenal and temperature rhythmicity

Daytime restriction of food and water availability in nocturnal animals phase shifts the circadian periodicity of plasma corticosteroid concentrations and body temperature. These shifted rhythms persist in animals with lesions of the suprachiasmatic nuclei who are arrhythmic under normal conditions. These findings suggest the existence of an additional "clock" that may be involved in the generation of the rhythm.

An autoradiographic investigation of the subcortical visual system in chimpanzee

Based on one adult chimpanzee monocularly injected with radioactive proline, retinofugal fibers were found to terminate bilaterally in the suprachiasmatic, pregeniculate, lateral geniculate, olivary, pretectal and lateral terminal nuclei, and the superior colliculi; the existence of a dorsal terminal nucleus of the accessory optic system is in doubt. In the ipsilateral geniculate nucleus, the fibers terminate in layers 2, 3 and 5; in the contralateral nucleus, they end in layers 1, 4 and 6. Midway through the geniculate nucleus, layers 3 and 4 split medially into two daughter layers each. In the superior colliculi, most of the retinal terminals are aggregated superficially in a band located in the stratum griseum superficiale. The contralateral band is interrupted by gaps; the ipsilateral band has fewer gaps, is slightly thicker and located more deeply. There is a limited second tier of terminals in the contralateral superficial gray.

Analysis of sleep-wakefulness rhythms in male rats after suprachiasmatic nucleus lesions and ocular enucleation

To determine quantitatively characteristics of sleep-wakefulness rhythms in male albino rats, computer analysis of long term polygraphic records (24 h/day) of cortical EEG activity, neck EMG and EOG taken from 23 rats under 12:12 light-dark schedule was performed. After bilateral suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) lesions, the circadian rhythm in sleep-wakefulness was completely eliminated, although no attenuation or even slight enhancement of the ultradian rhythms with 2-4 h pweiodicity was observed. After enucleation of both eyes, the circadian rhythm was free-running with a phase shift in the range from --12 to +22 min/day in 6 rats. A gradual decrease of the spectral value of the circadian rhythm and inverse enhancement of the ultradian rhythms with 4--7 h periodicity (predominantly 6 h in 4 out of 6 rats) were also shown. In the spectral diagram, the appearance of paradoxical sleep (PS) paralleled slow-wave sleep (SWS), in the cases of the circadian rhythm and ultradian rhythms with 4--7 h periodicity. Behaviorally blind rats with bilateral primary optic tract (POT) lesions maintained the circadian rhythm in sleep-wakefulness entrained to the environmental light-dark cycle. Power spectral analysis showed no characteristic difference from normal rats. Based on these data, the role of the SCN as a pacemaker of endogenous circadian rhythm in sleep-wakefulness is discussed.

The accessory optic system of the ferret

The accessory optic system of the ferret has been studied both by silver degeneration staining and by autoradiography after intraocular 3H leucine injections. There is no anterior accessory optic tract but a posterior tract containing only crossed fibres leaves the brachium of the superior colliculus and ends in the two nuclei, the medial and lateral terminal nuclei, lying either side of the cerebral peduncle. Both suprachiasmatic nuclei receive retinal fibres visible only on autoradiographs; most fibres end in the contralateral nucleus. No other area in the hypothalamus appears to receive retinal fibres demonstrated by these methods.

Retinofugal pathways in two marsupials

Autoradiographic and anterograde degeneration tracing methods were used to study and compare the organization of retinofugal pathways in two marsupial opossums, Didelphis virginiana and Marmosa mitis. Seven identical retinal targets were demonstrated for each opossum. These include: (1) the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, (2) the dorsal and (3) ventral lateral geniculate nuclei, (4) the lateral posterior nucleus, (5) the pretectal complex, (6) the superior colliculus and (7) the accessory optic nuclei. While the pattern of retinal input to six of the seven targets was quite similar in the two species, the organization of the retinogeniculate pathways exhibited striking differences. In particular, our autoradiographs reveal no separation of ocular inputs within the lateral geniculate nucleus of Didelphis, i.e. the ipsilateral input is overlapped completely by the more extensive contralateral projection. In contrast, there is considerable separation, as well as overlap, of the occular inputs within the lateral geniculate nucleus of Marmosa. Our autoradiographs reveal several distinct bands of label within each geniculate nucleus, and upon superimposing the nuclei, ipsilateral and contralateral to the placement it is apparent that two of the bands overlap, while five do not (three ipsi, two contra).

The efferent connections of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus of the rat

The efferent connections of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) of the rat have been examined using the autoradiographic method. Following injections of small amounts (0.4-2.0 muCi) of tritium labeled amino acids, fibers from the VMH can be traced forward through the periventricular region, the medial hypothalamus and the medial forebrain bundle to the preoptic and thalamic periventricular nuclei, to the medial and lateral preoptic areas, to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and to the ventral part of the lateral septum. Some labeled axons continue through the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis into the stria itself, and hence to the amygdala, where they join other fibers which follow a ventral amygdalopetal route from the lateral hypothalamic area and ventral supraoptic commissure. These fibers terminate in the dorsal part of the medial amygdaloid nucleus and in the capsule of the central nucleus. A lesser number of rostrally directed fibers from the VMH crosses the midline in the ventral supraoptic commissure and contributes a sparse projection to the contralateral amygdala. Descending fibers from the VMH take three routes: (i) through the medial hypothalamus and medial forebrain bundle; (ii) through the periventricular region; and (iii) bilaterally through the ventral supraoptic commissure. These three pathways are interconnected by labeled fibers so that it is not possible to precisely identify their respective terminations. However, the periventricular fibers seem to project primarily to the posterior hypothalamic area and central gray, as far caudally as the anterior pole of the locus coeruleus, while the medial hypothalamic and medial forebrain bundle fibers apparently terminate mainly in the capsule of the mammillary complex, in the supramammillary nucleus and in the ventral tegmental area. The ventral supraoptic commissure fibers leave the hypothalamus closely applied to the medial edges of the two optic tracts. After giving off their contributions to the amygdala, they continue caudally until they cross the dorsal edge of the cerebral peduncle to enter the zona incerta. Some fibers probably terminate here, but others continue caudally to end in the dentral tegmental fields, and particularly in the peripeduncular nucleus. Within the hypothalamus, the VMH appears to project extensively to the surrounding nuclei. However, we have not been able to find evidence for a projection from the VMH to the median eminence. Isotope injections which differentially label the dorsomedial or the ventrolateral parts of the VMH have shown that most of the long connections (to the septum, amygdala, central tegmental fields and locus coeruleus) originate in the ventrolateral VMH, and there is also some evidence for a topographic organization within the projections of this subdivision of the nucleus.

Areal and laminar distribution of some pulvinar cortical efferents in rhesus monkey

The areal and laminar distribution of the cortical efferents of the medial, lateral and inferior pulvinar nuclei (PM, PL and PI respectively) were determined in rhesus monkey using autoradiography and Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP). The autoradiographic data indicated that: areas 8a, 45 and 46 on the convexity and 11 and 12 on the orbital surface of the frontal lobe received projections from PM; areas 20, 21 and 22 in temporal lobe received projections from PM primarily with caudal-medial parts of PM projecting to more rostral-dorsal parts of temporal lobe and rostral-lateral parts of PM projecting to more caudal-ventral parts of temporal lobe but PL also sends some efferents to caudal temporal lobe; areas 5 and 7 in parietal lobe and 18 and 19 in occipital lobe received projections primarily from the region in pulvinar comprising PL and PI with the more ventral parts of this region porsal parts of this region projecting to the more dorsal-lateral and medial parts of parieto-occipital cortex and with PM comtributing slightly to these projections rostrally. The autoradiographic information on the pulvinar projections to frontal lobe and temporal pole was supplemented by data derived from cortical HRP injections. These indicated that although only PM of the pulvinar subnuclei projected to these regions, three other caudal thalamic structures, i.e., medial dorsal nucleus, nucleus limitans and suprageniculate nucleus also projected to these regions raising some questions about the identity of the densocellular part of the medial dorsal nucleus which has also been considered to be part of pulvinar. The laminar distribution of pulvinar cortical efferents was uniformly similar regardless of the pulvinar recipient area examined. Elevated numbers of silver grains were observed over all cortical layers, but the silver grains were densest over the deep parts of layer III. The thalamic reticular nucleus was the only diencephalic structure observed to receive projections from pulvinar and it did so from PM, PL and PI. The pulvinar's efferents are to homotypical rather than heterotypical cortex and its connections are most extensive with cortex rather than with subcortical structures.

The role of suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus in the production of circadian rhythm

(1) Action potentials were recorded from single neurons in suprachiasmatic nuclei of hypothalamus in urethane anesthetized male rat. The rate of firing ranged from less than 1 to over 10/sec but was generally 4-8/sec, and it varied from one cell to another in the same animal. (2) Repetitive stimulation of optic nerve or light acting on the eye augmented the activity of approximately half of the the suprachiasmatic neurons examined (67 out of 159 cells) while 37 neurons (23%) showed clear inhibition by the same stimuli. (3) Stimulation of the suprachiasmatic nuclei strongly inhibited the electrical activity of cervical sympathetic nerves. Light or optic nerve stimulation also inhibited activity of cervical sympathetic nerves. (4) The rate of discharge of suprachiasmatic nuclei showed, at times, some short duration oscillations occurring every 3-5 min, but at other times the same neuron showed a steady low frequency of firing. (5) Projection of optic nerves to the suprachiasmatic nuclei was demonstrated by anterograde migration of horseradish peroxidase placed in the vitreous body. (6) It was suggested that light excites certain groups of neurons in the suprachiasmatic nuclei which exert inhibitory action on cervical sympathetic nerve. This, in turn, caused a reduction in norepinephrine release by nerve fibers innervating the pineal and a reduction in pineal enzyme production. Thus, neurons in these nuclei contribute to the suppression of pineal enzyme production produced by light.

A cytoarchitectonic atlas of the mouse hypothalamus

A description of the organization, areas, and cell groups within the hypothalamus of the mouse is presented in detail. Photomicrographs of cell-stained serial sections through the hypothalamus in frontal, sagittal and horizontal planes are included. The hypothalamus has been divided basically into medial and lateral parts with most well-defined cell groups or nuclei lying within the medial subdivision and surrounded by diffuse collections of cells referred to as areas. The heterogenetiy of cell types within most hypothalamic nuclei and areas has been emphasized with the consequent implications for heterogeneity of neuronal connections and of functions. Recently introduced neuroanatomical techniques permitting increased attention to the cellular level of organization have demonstrated precise connections and functional localization of cells within the hypothalamus. While cytoarchitectonic distinctions imply functional distinctions, morphological and experimental evidence suggest the existence also of systems of cells which transcend conventional cytoarchitectonic boundaries, the cells within each system being interconnected functionally or neuronally.

Retinohypothalamic projection in the mouse: electron microscopic and iontophoretic investigations of hypothalamic and optic centers

The problem of the direct retinohypothalamic projection in mammals (Moore, 1973) was reinvestigated in the laboratory mouse by electron microscopy and cobalt chloride-iontophoresis. The time-course of the axonal degeneration in the suprachiasmatic nucleus was studied 3, 6 and 12 h, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 days after unilateral retinectomy. Specificity of the degenerative changes was controlled by investigation of the superficial layers of the superior colliculus. The ratio of crossed to uncrossed optic fibers could could be determined by counting degenerating structures (axons and terminals) in the optic chiasma and the ipsilateral and contralateral areas of the optic tract, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, and the superior colliculus. The number of degenerating axons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus showed a maximum one day after unilateral retinectomy and was, at all stages studied, two to three times higher in the contralateral than in the ipsilateral nuclear area. In the optic tract and in the superior colliculus the number of degenerating profiles was three times higher in the contralateral than in the ipsilateral area. Retinohypothalamic connections and crossing pattern of retinal fibers were studied light microscopically using impregnation with cobalt sulfide in whole mounts of brains. Most of the optic fibers in the laboratory mouse are crossed crossed (70-80%). A bundle of predominantly crossed optic fibers runs to the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Nucleus suprachiasmaticus: the biological clock in the hamster?

Destruction of the suprachiasmatic nuclei in the golden hamster by bilateral radiofrequency lesions abolishes three well-documented circadian rhythms--locomotor activity, estrous cyclicity, and photoperiodic photosensitivity. Entrainment of these rhythms by light cycles fails in lesioned hamsters; females become persistently estrous; in both sexes locomotor activity becomes sporadic, confined primarily to the light instead of darkness, and is totally arrhythmic when lesioned animals are exposed to continuous darkness; the photoperiodic gonadal response (gonadal regression induced by short day lengths) is abolished; lesioned animals remain reproductively mature irrespective of photoperiodic treatment.