Nuclei and tracts in the epithalamus of crocodiles

Abstract

The epithalamus, an area of the dorsal diencephalon found in all vertebrates, consists of the habenula, the subhabenular nuclei, and associated tracts. The habenula is itself divisible into two parts—a medial and a lateral nucleus differing in their inputs, outputs, and cellular morphology. The medial component is related to the limbic system and serotonergic raphe, while the lateral nucleus is more interconnected with the basal ganglia and midbrain dopamine systems. These findings, which come from experiments mainly done on mammals, serve as a basis for comparison with other vertebrates. However, similar studies in other amniotes, such as reptiles, are few. To fill this gap in knowledge, two species of crocodiles were examined utilizing a variety of histological methods in various planes of section. The following results were obtained. First, the habenula was divided into medial and lateral parts based on its cytoarchitecture. Neurons in the medial habenula were small, were closely packed, and had a limited dendritic arbor characterized by unusual distal dendritic appendages, whereas neurons in the lateral habenula were larger, were more loosely packed, and had longer dendritic processes that were commonly beaded. Second, the stria medullaris, the major input to the habenula, was identified by its immunoreactivity to parvalbumin. Third, the fasciculus retroflexus (habenulointerpeduncular tract), the primary output of the habenula, was visualized by staining with acetylcholinesterase. Fourth, nuclei associated with the habenula, the subhabenular nuclei, have been identified and characterized. These features provide a means to recognize the major nuclei and tracts in the epithalamus in crocodiles and are likely applicable to other reptiles.

Nuclei and tracts in the thalamus of crocodiles

“…With the exception of the anterograde tract tracing experiment (see below), the data set used for this study has been detailed previously (Pritz, 2023a(Pritz, , 2023c. Pertinent to the present analysis were techniques to demonstrate cytoarchitecture, myeloarchitecture, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry (IHC).…”

“…The following is a brief characterization of the antibodies described in greater detail previously (Pritz, 2023a(Pritz, , 2023c. The calbindin (CB)/calretinin (CR) antibody was made against HPLC-purified peptide, CB 28 kD, isolated from chick intestine, which also recognized CR.…”

“…Previous investigations in crocodiles identified and described nuclei located in the pretectum (Pritz, 2023a), the preoptic area and hypothalamus (Pritz, 2023b), and the epithalamus (Pritz, 2023c). The remaining nuclei identified by Huber and Crosby (1926) were considered to reside in the thalamus.…”

Nuclei and Tracts in the Telencephalon of Crocodiles: Identification and Characterization Using an Organizational Scheme Applicable to Other Reptiles

“…The dataset for this report has been detailed previously (Pritz 2023a(Pritz , 2023b. These reports describe the methods for myeloarchitecture, cytoarchitecture, immunohistochemistry, and histochemistry staining.…”