Nuclei and tracts in the pretectum and associated tegmentum of crocodiles.

Abstract

In all vertebrates, the pretectum and associated tegmentum arise from prosomere 1, but the adult derivatives of these embryonic regions are not well defined in reptiles-especially in crocodiles, the reptilian group most closely related to birds. Despite its importance in vision and visuomotor behavior, descriptions of the pretectum in crocodiles are brief and photographs are lacking. To fill this gap in knowledge, the pretectum and associated tegmentum were examined in two crocodilians, Caiman crocodilus and Alligator mississippiensis, using a variety of histological stains in all three traditional planes of section. These observations were compared with similar studies in other reptiles and birds. These comparisons were hampered by differences in nomenclature and limited data. Nevertheless, pretectal nuclei in receipt of retinal input in crocodiles, other reptiles, and birds were the most easily identified when compared with the present analysis. Despite identifying the traditional nuclei comprising the pretectum of crocodiles, other areas remain to be characterized. Nevertheless, knowledge gained from this description will aid further investigations of this brain region in crocodiles and other reptiles as well as provide a reference for developmental studies in crocodiles.