Changing patterns of binocular visual connections in the intertectal system during development of the frog, Xenopus laevis. I. Normal maturational changes in response to changing binocular geometry. 1989

S Grant, and M J Keating
Division of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, National Institute for Medical Research, London, U.K.

During metamorphic and post-metamorphic life in the frog. Xenopus laevis, growth-related changes in skull shape produce radical alterations in the spatial relationship between the two eyes. These changes in binocular visual geometry were measured using optical techniques. Between the onset of metamorphic climax at stage 60 and adulthood (2 or more years post-metamorphosis) each eye migrates nasally by 55 degrees and dorsally by 50 degrees with respect to the major body axes of the animal. As a result the nasotemporal extent of the binocular visual field increases from 30 degrees to 162 degrees between these ages. Electrophysiological methods were used to determine changes in the neural representation of the binocular visual field at the paired midbrain optic tecta and in the tectal projection of pairs of corresponding retinal loci at various developmental points between these ages. The proportion of each tectal surface devoted to the representation of the binocular visual field increases from 11% at stage 60 to 77% at adulthood. Retinal correspondence, and hence the tectal projection of corresponding retinal loci, undergoes radical alteration during this period. In normal adults an intertectal system of connections selectively links the tectal projection of corresponding retinal loci and thus provides a neuronal mechanism for integrating binocular visual information in the optic tecta. Electrophysiological methods were used to determine how the intertectal system accommodates the developmental challenge posed by the enlarging binocular visual field and changing retinal correspondence. Between stage 60 and adulthood the ipsilateral visuotectal projection which is the product of the intertectal system, increases in size as the binocular visual field and its tectal representation enlarges. Moreover, throughout this period, it provides a mechanism for integrating binocular visual information in the optic tecta by maintaining its spatial registration with the contralateral visuotectal projection from the other eye. Analysis of the pattern of functional intertectal connections reveals that during the course of normal maturation this system undergoes continuous processes of expansion and of orderly and major remodelling.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007814 Larva Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals. Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D009799 Ocular Physiological Phenomena Processes and properties of the EYE as a whole or of any of its parts. Ocular Physiologic Processes,Ocular Physiological Processes,Ocular Physiology,Eye Physiology,Ocular Physiologic Process,Ocular Physiological Concepts,Ocular Physiological Phenomenon,Ocular Physiological Process,Physiology of the Eye,Physiology, Ocular,Visual Physiology,Concept, Ocular Physiological,Concepts, Ocular Physiological,Ocular Physiological Concept,Phenomena, Ocular Physiological,Phenomenon, Ocular Physiological,Physiologic Process, Ocular,Physiologic Processes, Ocular,Physiological Concept, Ocular,Physiological Concepts, Ocular,Physiological Process, Ocular,Physiological Processes, Ocular,Physiology, Eye,Physiology, Visual,Process, Ocular Physiologic,Process, Ocular Physiological,Processes, Ocular Physiologic,Processes, Ocular Physiological
D010775 Photic Stimulation Investigative technique commonly used during ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY in which a series of bright light flashes or visual patterns are used to elicit brain activity. Stimulation, Photic,Visual Stimulation,Photic Stimulations,Stimulation, Visual,Stimulations, Photic,Stimulations, Visual,Visual Stimulations
D001931 Brain Mapping Imaging techniques used to colocalize sites of brain functions or physiological activity with brain structures. Brain Electrical Activity Mapping,Functional Cerebral Localization,Topographic Brain Mapping,Brain Mapping, Topographic,Functional Cerebral Localizations,Mapping, Brain,Mapping, Topographic Brain
D005123 Eye The organ of sight constituting a pair of globular organs made up of a three-layered roughly spherical structure specialized for receiving and responding to light. Eyes
D000200 Action Potentials Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli. Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000375 Aging The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time. Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013477 Superior Colliculi The anterior pair of the quadrigeminal bodies which coordinate the general behavioral orienting responses to visual stimuli, such as whole-body turning, and reaching. Colliculus, Superior,Optic Lobe, Human,Optic Lobe, Mammalian,Optic Tectum,Anterior Colliculus,Superior Colliculus,Tectum, Optic,Colliculi, Superior,Colliculus, Anterior,Human Optic Lobe,Human Optic Lobes,Mammalian Optic Lobe,Mammalian Optic Lobes,Optic Lobes, Human,Optic Lobes, Mammalian,Optic Tectums,Tectums, Optic
D014795 Visual Pathways Set of cell bodies and nerve fibers conducting impulses from the eyes to the cerebral cortex. It includes the RETINA; OPTIC NERVE; optic tract; and geniculocalcarine tract. Pathway, Visual,Pathways, Visual,Visual Pathway

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