A Golgi Study on the Afferent Fibers to the Habenular Ganglion in the Red Stingray, Dasyatis akajei

Abstract

Afferent fibers to the habenular ganglion (HG) were derived mainly from the stria medullaris thalami (SM), which was roughly divided into a dorsal and ventral bundle. In the left ganglion seen at the level of the rostrocaudal middle, the dorsal bundle gave off collaterals to the lateral habenular nucleus (LH) and dorsal subnucleus of the medial habenular nucleus (MH), while the ventral bundle innervated the intermediate and ventral subnuclei of the MH. On the other hand, in the right ganglion at the level of the rostrocaudal middle, the dorsal subnucleus of the MH was innervated by collaterals from the dorsal bundle of the SM, whereas in the intermediate and ventral subnucleus fibers from the ventral bundle were seen. In the left ganglion at the caudal level, the dorsal and ventral bundle extended medially and joined the same bundle of the opposite side to constitute a dorsal and intermediate component of the habenular commissure, respectively. A third component of the HC, a ventral component, was seen to run between the fasciculus retroflexus of both sides. As in the case of the rostral level, the dorsal bundle of the SM emitted collaterals to the LH and dorsal subnucleus of the MH, while the intermediate and ventral subnuclei of the MH were projected upon by collaterals from the ventral bundle of the SM. At the caudal level of the right ganglion, the dorsal bundle gave off collaterals to the dorsal subnucleus of the MH. In contrast, the LH and the intermediate and ventral subnuclei of the MH were innervated by fibers from the ventral bundle. With regard to terminal patterns of the SM, fibers to the MH gave off many short fine branchlets forming the glomerular structures, whereas those to the LH branched out into numerous terminals to form a dense fiber plexus. Thus, the afferent fibers to the HG in the red stingray exhibited a striking left-right asymmetry.