Biomaterial Database

Retinal projections in tyrosinase-negative albino cats. 1982

D Creel, and A E Hendrickson, and A G Leventhal

Retinal projections were examined in two tyrosinase-negative albino cats using autoradiographic techniques. Cats from this colony have pink eyes; their retinal pigment epithelium, ciliary body, and iris epithelium are completely devoid of melanin pigment. Test breeding for five generations indicates that these cats are true albinos (cc). The most striking feature of the albino cats' visual pathways was a reduction in ipsilateral input which was more severe than that reported for Siamese cats. The only evidence of ipsilateral input to the laminated dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the albino was a small lateral normal segment and a small projection to the lateral portion of lamina C1. Ipsilateral projections to the medial interlaminar nucleus, retinal recipient zone of the pulvinar complex, ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, superior colliculus, and pretectum also were reduced. Ipsilateral projections to the suprachiasmatic nucleus appeared to be normal in the albino cats studied. Our findings indicate that, compared to the normal cat as well as to the tyrosine-positive Siamese cat, the tyrosinase-negative albino has reduced ipsilateral retinal projections. The albino cat is a model system analogous to tyrosinase-negative albinism found in mammals.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007839	Functional Laterality	Behavioral manifestations of cerebral dominance in which there is preferential use and superior functioning of either the left or the right side, as in the preferred use of the right hand or right foot.	Ambidexterity,Behavioral Laterality,Handedness,Laterality of Motor Control,Mirror Writing,Laterality, Behavioral,Laterality, Functional,Mirror Writings,Motor Control Laterality,Writing, Mirror,Writings, Mirror
D008544	Melanocytes	Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES.	Melanocyte
D009897	Optic Chiasm	The X-shaped structure formed by the meeting of the two optic nerves. At the optic chiasm the fibers from the medial part of each retina cross to project to the other side of the brain while the lateral retinal fibers continue on the same side. As a result each half of the brain receives information about the contralateral visual field from both eyes.	Chiasma Opticum,Optic Chiasma,Optic Decussation,Chiasm, Optic,Chiasma Opticums,Chiasma, Optic,Chiasmas, Optic,Chiasms, Optic,Decussation, Optic,Decussations, Optic,Optic Chiasmas,Optic Chiasms,Optic Decussations,Opticum, Chiasma,Opticums, Chiasma
D012160	Retina	The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the OPTIC NERVE and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the CHOROID and the inner surface with the VITREOUS BODY. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent.	Ora Serrata
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D004156	Catechol Oxidase	An enzyme of the oxidoreductase class that catalyzes the reaction between catechol and oxygen to yield benzoquinone and water. It is a complex of copper-containing proteins that acts also on a variety of substituted catechols. EC 1.10.3.1.	Diphenol Oxidases,Diphenol Oxidase,Polyphenol Oxidase,Polyphenoloxidase,Oxidase, Catechol,Oxidase, Diphenol,Oxidase, Polyphenol,Oxidases, Diphenol
D005260	Female		Females
D000417	Albinism	General term for a number of inherited defects of amino acid metabolism in which there is a deficiency or absence of pigment in the eyes, skin, or hair.
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