The relationship of a monoamine fiber system to a somatosensory tectal projection in the salamanderAmbystoma tigrinum

Abstract

After hemisection of the spinal cord and medulla oblongata, a projection has been traced to the inner half of the tectal white of the tiger salamander, using Fink‐Heimer degeneration staining. By microelectrode recording it was found that the tectal projection forms a topographic somatosensory map of the contralateral half of the body. This map is in register with the overlying retino‐tectal visual projection. Using the Falck‐Hillarp technique, it was found that the somatosensory tectal input is associated with yellow‐fluorescing 5‐hydroxytryptamine fibers.