Retinal projections in tyrosinase-negative albino cats

Abstract

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 tyrosinase-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.