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C Weidner

Publications and source records attributed to C Weidner.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Nuclear origin of the centrifugal visual pathway in birds of prey.

The isthmo-optic nucleus (NIO) at the origin of the retinopetal pathway was examined in 12 birds of prey (strigiforms and falconiforms) using cytoarchitectonic methods and after the intraocular injection of the regrograde tracers Rhodamine beta-isothiocyanate and Fast blue. The NIO was found to be poorly differentiated and reticular in appearance and depending on the species contained between 900 and 1400 neurons. These values are approximately 10 times less than those recorded in the pigeon and chicken. As in the latter species, the experimental data obtained in the strigiform Tyto alba showed the presence of retinopetal ectopic neurons bilaterally. However the ipsilateral contingent was proportionally larger in the nocturnal raptor. The functional significance of the poorly developed centrifugal visual system in birds of prey is discussed.

Animals↗

Time course of degeneration of the visual system induced by spontaneous glaucoma in the albino quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

The retinal projection of an imperfect albino quail mutant with a sex-linked recessive gene was examined 2 weeks-16 months post-hatch using various histological methods. During the first weeks the visual system was normal. Initial signs of buphthalmos, a form of spontaneous glaucoma, appeared between the 3d and 5th months. Its development induced a degeneration of the retinal projections according to a relatively precise sequence progressing from the mesencephalic tegmentum to the optic tectum, then from the pretectum to the thalamus. The data suggest that the degeneration of the optic axons results from their mechanical compression due to the increased intraocular pressure.

Age Factors↗

The primary optic system in a microphthalmic snake (Calabaria reinhardti).

The retinal projections in the microphthalmic snake Calabaria reinhardti were investigated by means of the radioautographic method following intraocular injections of [3H]proline. The results demonstrated the existence of a general pattern of organization of the primary visual system comparable to that observed in macrophthalmic snakes. However, most of the primary optic centers appeared reduced and showed varying signs of atrophy, whereas others were completely absent. Elsewhere, the ipsilateral visual component appeared as well developed as that found in macrophthalmic snakes. The evolutionary significance of the differential microphthalmic pattern of organization of the primary visual system is discussed.

Animals↗

[Demonstration of a retino-thalamo-hippocampal pathway in the rat].

Investigations using double labeling by axonal transport of tracers have shown that in the rat, four nuclei of the anterior thalamus (anterior dorsal, anterior ventral, lateral anterior, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis) that project to the CA1 region of the hippocampus also receive a discrete input from the contralateral eye. The significance of this telencephalic visual pathway is discussed in a phylogenetic context.

Afferent Pathways↗

[Course of the degeneration of the primary visual system in albino quails with glaucoma].

In the quail, a sex-linked albino mutation is associated with buphthalmic glaucoma. This progressive disorder is detectable 3 to 6 months after hatching. Its development leads to a degeneration of retinal projection according to a relatively orderly sequence progressing from the tegmentum to the tectum and from the pretectum to the thalamus. We suggest that the degeneration of visual axons might be produced by mechanical compression resulting from an increase in intraocular pressure.

Albinism↗

An anatomical study of ipsilateral retinal projections in the quail using radioautographic, horseradish peroxidase, fluorescence and degeneration techniques.

The topographical organization of ipsilateral retinal projections was investigated in the pigmented quail using different anatomical tracing techniques. The orthograde labeling patterns were examined after intraocular injections of tritiated tracers (autoradiography), horseradish peroxidase (HRP) either alone or combined with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), the fluorescent tracer rhodamine beta-isothiocyanate (RITC) and after unilateral retinal ablations using degeneration methods where the material was observed at both light and electron microscope levels. The different techniques provided extremely variable results with regard to demonstrating ipsilateral retinal projections. Whereas the latter could not be revealed in the radioautographic preparations, the results derived using the degeneration and HRP methods were fragmentary. The RITC method was found to be the most effective and made it possible to accurately define the different ipsilateral optic contingents and their terminal arborizations within various thalamic, pretectal and tegmentomesencephalic centers. The contradictory data in the literature regarding the existence of ipsilateral retinal projections in various avian species may be explained by differences in methodology based upon the relative degrees of resolution offered by the different techniques.

Animals↗

Orthograde axonal and transcellular transport of different fluorescent tracers in the primary visual system of the rat.

The differential labeling properties of various fluorescent tracers injected intraocularly were investigated using as a model the rat primary visual system. All of the tracers tested (Fast Blue, FB; True Blue, TB; Nuclear Yellow, NY; bisbenzimide, BB; Evans Blue, EB; propidium iodide, PI) produced a retrograde neuronal labeling of oculomotor neurons. However, no such labeling was observed in the medial pretectal nucleus (NPM) considered to be the site of origin of the rat centrifugal visual pathway. Orthograde transport within the axons of the optic tract and their terminal arborizations were visualized directly with FB and TB. No evidence of EB or PI orthograde transport was demonstrated. Furthermore, FB, TB, NY and BB displayed varying degrees of leakage from the optic axons and terminals into the extracellular space, there to be taken up by glial (FB, TB, NY, BB) and neuronal (NY, BB) somas of the primary optic system or in adjacent structures including NPM (BB). The neuronal labeling with NY or BB does not result from the retrograde axonal transport but appears to involve an orthograde transneuronal process transport. Some limitations in the use of different fluorescent tracers for determining neuronal connections are discussed.

Animals↗

Long term regeneration of contralateral and induced ipsilateral retinal projections to the remaining optic tectum of Rutilus rutilus.

The regeneration of optic tract fibers hs been investigated in Rutilus kept at 18-20 degrees C, 6-7 months after ablation of one optic tectum and simultaneous section of the optic nerve from the contralateral eye. The labeling of the optic fibers obtained following injection of either tritiated proline or HRP in either of the eyes showed the existence of a normal contralateral retino-tectal projection to strata opticum, fibrosum et griseum superficial (SFGS), griseum centrale, and album centrale. Furthermore, it demonstrated the presence of a conspicuous newly-formed ipsilateral retino-tectal projection to both superficial and deep layers of SFGS in the form of horizontal bands. The partial overlapping of ipsi- and contralateral projections in SFGS was confirmed by a double-labeling technique (HRP and tritiated proline). The results suggest a retinal hyperinnervation of the remaining optic tectum.

Animals↗

[Structures of telencephalic projection in the pigeon. Identification by marking with horseradish peroxidase].

The sites of origin of afferents to the telencephalon in the pigeon were investigated using the HRP technique (TMB). Following large multiple injections of the enzyme into the cerebral hemisphere, peroxidase-positive neurons were identified at diencephalic levels: ipsilaterally in DLM, DMA, DLP, DIP, DMP, Rt, Ov, SRt and SCE/SCI; bilaterally in DLA and SPC. At mesencephalic and posterior brainstem levels, HRP-labeled neurons were found: ipsilaterally in AVT, ZpNIII, ICo, FRM, FRL, TP and SCv; bilaterally in GCt, ZpFLM, neurons were found: ipsilaterally in AVT, ZpNIII, ICo, FRM, FRL, TP and SCv; bilaterally in GCt, ZpFLM, Annul, LoC, LC and PrV. Smaller injections of HRP into different regions of the telencephalon demonstrated, for some of the latter structures, either single or multiple projections upon topographically distinct subdivisions.

Afferent Pathways↗

[The presence of an albino ERG in the pigmented rat: genetic implications (author's transl)].

UNLABELLED: The electroretinogram (ERG) of the albino rat (genotype c/c) differs from that of the pigmented rat (hooded, Long-Evans) by the attenuation of the b-wave and the disappearance of the c-wave which is replaced by a negative component. The present study has shown that a similar alteration in the ERG is present in the hypodactyl hooded rat (genotype hd/hd) (Fig. 1). The comparative analysis of the recordings indicated that: 1. The detection thresholds for the a and b waves were identical in the three varieties (Fig. 2). 2. The wave-form of the P III component observed after ischemia was also identical in the three strains (Fig. 1). 3. The modifications in the ERG induced by sodium azide (Fig. 4) and sodium iodate (Fig. 5) in the hd/hd rat are the same as those which have been reported in the c/c strain, and (as in the latter case) the absence of the c-wave is not due to the disappearance of P I, but rather to an attenuation of this component resulting in a negative algebraic sums of P I and P III (Fig. 6). 4. IN CONCLUSION: the alterations in the ERG recording, observed in albinos, were interpreted as being due to some fragility in the photoreceptors, consequent to a lack of pigmentary protection. Such an interpretation is invalidated by the fact that a similar ERG pattern was found in both pigmented and albino rats. Because genetic deficiencies other that the absence of a chromogene factor can modify the ERG, it is suggested that the c-gene, as is the case for the hd-gene, could be responsible for a disturbance of foetal erythropoiesis. Thus, the resulting circulatory problems, without provoking any visible structural effects, would nevertheless affect retinal functioning.

Albinism↗

Orthograde and retrograde axonal movement of label and transneuronal transport phenomena after intraocular injection of [3H]adenosine in a poikolotherm vertebrate (Vipera aspis).

The axoplasmic transport of [3H]adenosine (or its related compounds) has been examined radioautographically in the visual system of a poïkilotherm species (Vipera aspis) following an intraocular injection of the nucleoside. It has been found that the axonal transport of the label occurs both in the anterograde directions. Furthermore, a considerable labelling of neuronal bodies as a result of transneuronal transport of tritiated material from the optic endings has been observed, particularly in the primary optic centers. Transneuronal labelling, however, appears less intense than retrograde cell labelling.

Adenosine↗

[Anatomical study of the afferent pathways of the rostral telencephalon in the Gallus domesticus chick].

The neuroanatomical method involving retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was employed in the chick Gallus domesticus to investigate ascending projection systems to the rostral telencephalon. Following either extensive or restricted injections of the enzyme into different regions of the latter, differential bilateral or unilateral projections onto the Wulst (hyperstriatum accessorium, hyperstriatum intercalatus superior, hyperstriatum dorsale) were demonstrated from the dorsal thalami complex (nucleus dorsolateralis anterior thalami, pars lateralis). Other nuclei of the dorsal thalamus shown to project to the rostral telencephalon were nuclei, dorsolateralis medialis, dorsolateralis posterior, dorsomedialis anterior, parvocellularis and rotundus. At the level of the mesencephalon, rostral telencephalic projections were found to originate in the substantia grisea centralis, the strata cellulare externum and internum, the lateral reticular formation and the area ventralis. More caudally peroxidase label was localized in the nuclei locus, ceruleus, subceruleus dorsale, subceruleus ventrale and within the principal Vth nucleus. The results obtained using restricted injections of HRP made it possible to more precisely identify the telencephalic projections sites of several of the above areas and nuclei. The data is compared to previous findings regarding ascending projection system in different avian species and some methodological problems in the use of HRP technique are discussed.

Afferent Pathways↗

[Primary visual centers in the frog (Rana esculenta L.) and the problem of ipsilateral projections. Radioautographic study].

The topographic organization of the frog's primary visual system has been reexamined in Rana esculenta using autoradiographic technique. 10 to 24 hrs following an intraocular injection of tritiated proline, an intense labelling was observed contralaterally in the various retinal projection centres (preoptic area); neuropils of Bellonci; corpus geniculatum of the thalamus; posterior thalamus; posterodorsal preoptic area; magnocellular pretectal nucleus and basal optic nucleus; tectal laminae A to G of Potter), as already described. Furthermore, the presence of a ipsilateral projection within the hypothalamus (preoptic area), the thalamus (neuropils of Bellonci and corpus geniculatum) and the pretectium (posterior thalami neuropil, pretectal optic area) is confirmed. On the other hand, the existence of ipsilateral retinotectal (to Potter's lamina F) and retino-tegmentomescencephalic projections (to the basal optic nucleus), which were thusfar questioned, has been demonstrated.

Animals↗

[Problems posed by the interpretation of peroxidase labelling of various neurons in Cyprinidae].

The origin of a centrifugal visual pathway in Cyprinids could not be demonstrated with the technique involving the labelling of cell bodies by retrograde transport of Horseradish Peroxidase. The hypothalamic labelling following intraocular injection of HRP is localized in neurosecretory structures which take up the enzyme that has passed into the circulatory system. Identical results were obtained following direct intracardiac injection. Thus extreme caution must be taken in attempting to interpret HRP results.

Animals↗

Cardiac amyloidosis, contrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Cardiac amyloidosis is not characterized by a single hemodynamic pattern. Some of the cases present the clinical findings of restrictive cardiomyopathy and in these differentiation from constrictive pericarditis remains difficult in spite of the introduction of techniques designed to assess myocardial contractility and ventricular diastolic compliance. The clinical features and the demonstration of left ventricular diastolic pressure greater than right remain the most useful means of distinguishing restrictive cardiomyopathy from constrictive pericarditis. In other cases of cardiac amyloidosis the diastolic pressure is elevated throughout diastole and ventricular ejectile ability is lost. These cases do not simulate constrictive pericarditis and should not be classified as restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Amyloidosis↗