Retinal projections in the lizard Podarcis hispanica.

The retinofugal of the lizard Podarcis hispanica has been examined by means of enzymatic method with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The retinal ganglion cells project contralaterally to thalamus (nucleus geniculatus lateralis pars dorsalis, nucleus geniculatus lateralis pars ventralis and nucleus ventrolateralis pars ventralis and nucleus ventrolateralis pars ventralis), pretectum (nucleus lentiformis mesencephali, nucleus geniculatus pretectalis and nucleus posterodorsalis) and optic tectum (layers 14 and 12, mainly, and layers 13 and 11). A small ipsilateral tract has been observed. Some of these fibers project to the lateral geniculate complex and the nucleus ventrolateralis pars ventralis. Most of the ipsilateral fibers have been observed in the neuropil of nucleus geniculatus pretectalis and the layer 14 of the optic tectum. The ipsilateral component, an inconstant structure in reptiles, presents an important development in Podarcis hispanica, although the number of its fibers is relatively small.