Presumptive FMRF-amide-like immunoreactive retinopetal fibres in Crocodylus niloticus

Abstract

A small contingent of 30–50 of centrifugal visual fibres, showing FMRF-amide-like immunoreactivity, has been identified in C. niloticus; these fibres extend from the chiasmatic region into the retina. They do not take the marginal optic tract, but pass medially to the chiasmatic fascicles, from the preoptic region. The cells of origin of these fibres have not been identified. However, none of the retinopetal neurons of the brainstem [M. Médina, J. Repérant, R. Ward, D. Miceli, Centrifugal visual system of Crocodylus niloticus : a hodological, histochemical and immunocytochemical study, J. Comp. Neurol. 468 (2004) 65–85], labelled by retrograde transport of rhodamine β-isothiocyanate after intraocular injection of this tracer, show FMRF-amide-like immunoreactivity; neither are any of the FMRF-amide-like immunopositive neurons in the crocodile brain, particularly those of the complex involving the terminal nerve and the septo-preoptic region, labelled by rhodamine after its intraocular injection.