Axonal growth in developing and regenerating amphibian retinotectal projection

This chapter describes the mode of growth of retinal axons during the development and regeneration of amphibian retinotectal projections mapped with horseradish peroxidase methods. It discusses the implications of the findings in the specification of retinal central connections. 

These anatomical studies on the mode of axonal growth during the regeneration and development of the retinotectal projection in amphibians clarified several fundamental principles for the establishment of ordered neuronal connections between the retina and the tectum. 

The first principle is that retinotopic segregation in the pathways en route to targets is not a prerequisite for the specification of retinal central connections, either in regeneration or in development. 

The second principle is that direct interactions between retinal axons and tectal cells or neurons are primarily important for the specification of a retinal central connection. 

Finally, the shifting of retinal terminals within the tectum during the processes of normal development and during regeneration indicates plastic features of the neuronal connection between the retina and the tectum.


https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0079612308618154